Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“It’s an emergency.” 

Aizawa couldn’t help but scoff at the phone. An emergency? He wasn’t the only foster parent in the country, in fact just down his neighborhood was another foster parent waiting for a child to take care of and he let them know it. 

“We are aware that Taishiro is available but this is a special case, you are the only one available for special case kids.” 

“Kids? Plural?” Aizawa questioned and the lady on the other side of the phone paused for a few seconds. 

“Two three-year-old boys,” the lady replied. 

Aizawa paused and looked at the suitcase packed in front of him. They had called him in the middle of getting ready to leave for the airport. His husband had been on tour for a week now and he was supposed to meet him in the UK for his first out-of-country tour. 

“I’m leaving Japan for a couple of months, I’m sorry but I can’t help you,” Aizawa said after another long pause. 

“Mr. Aizawa please reconsi-“ The lady pleaded but Aizawa hung up the call not letting himself get trapped in a guilt trip. His phone reflected the time to him 9:45 pm, it was late and his flight was in an hour. 

The phone rang again, this time it was a different number. Aizawa debated on answering, he knew this person and why they were calling, and despite his best judgment, he answered. 

“Shouta, these boys need you,” Tsukauchi’s words were immediate and it pierced his heart with enough force to rip it out of his chest. 

“I’m sorry but I have to refuse-“ 

“Just one week please, postpone for one week and I promise to find another home by then. I have a foster parent who just needs a couple more classes and they will be able to take them off your hands,” Tsukauchi told Aizawa. 

“I can’t, I’m already on my way to the airport.” 

“You’re lying.” 

Aizawa mentally cursed at himself, Tsukauchi had a quirk that could tell him when someone was lying. 

“Technically I just need to put my stuff in the car and I was going to leave,” Aizawa corrected himself. 

“Aizawa,” Tsukauchi paused making sure that his friend was listening to him “These kids need you.” 

And that was that, how could Aizawa say anything else? Sure his husband would have a couple of harsh words about being stood up but Aizawa knew Hizashi knew that this was important to him. Especially with the hole in his heart after successfully homing their last little girl. 

“When will they be here?” Aizawa asked and he could’ve sworn he could hear Tsukauchi smile through the phone. 

“We are heading out as soon as we feed and wash them up!” 

Aizawa hung up the phone and cursed angrily at the suitcase in front of him. The next phone call was suppose to be his husband but Aizawa knew Hizashi will be less than thrilled to hear the news. So instead he decided to avoid the call for now and do some quick preparations for the kids instead.

It was only an hour later when he heard his doorbell ring. Quickly he finished putting on the new freshly dried sheets on the bed and ran to the door. 

Before he even opened the door he could hear the commotion of two screaming children outside. Aizawa took a moment to breathe and calm down, he knew he could handle this. Only one week. 

As the door opened he saw a familiar face of his dear friend Tsukauchi. Of course behind him were two kids on the floor wailing incoherently in the cement of the driveway and flailing their little hands to hit the concrete—one with spiky blonde hair and another with green curls. 

“I’m sorry, they’ve been like this since they left the car, I think they were expecting to go back home,” Tsukauchi explained. 

“It was sudden?” Aizawa questioned, the boys crying in his yard were clearly confused and frightened. 

“We picked them up midday, they were found at their house with,” Tsukauchi lowered his voice to a whisper, “two dead bodies.” 

Aizawa's blood froze but before he could ask more questions Tsukauchi continued to talk in whispers. 

“It’s clear they’ve been surviving alone for several days now, maybe even a couple weeks. They were caught shoplifting from a gas station near where they lived. Several times actually, it wasn’t until today when the owner called the cops for child neglect but of course, there was no one to question.” 

“I see.” Was all Aizawa could manage, he stared at the boys whose loud yells quieted down to silent sobs, their meltdown slowly burning them out. 

“Listen, here’s some notes a caretaker wrote down in the last couple of hours maybe they can help,” Tsukauchi handed Aizawa a piece of paper attached to some other official documents. 

“Thanks.” 

“I got to go, I’ll call you tomorrow with updates,” Tsukauchi gave Aizawa a sad smile before turning to the boys who were still lying face first on the ground. 

“You two be good for Mr. Aizawa he’s here to help,” Tsukauchi said to the boys softly and the blonde huffed at him while the green-haired boy stayed silent. With that Tsukauchi was off and Aizawa was left alone with two three-year-olds. 

Aizawa slowly walked to the two boys, both now quiet and hiding their faces in the ground. 

“Come on now babes, it’s okay you’re safe,” Aizawa tried but there was no response from either of them. He debated on what to do, it was cold outside and he needed them inside quickly but he also didn’t want to touch them without permission and cause another meltdown. 

“My name is Shouta Aizawa, what’s your name?” The man said gently to the blonde in front of him but still the boy didn’t budge. 

“My name is Izuku Midoriya and I’m three,” Aizawa was surprised by the soft voice to his right. It was the green-haired boy who spoke first and quite well. Izuku’s voice also held a monotone sound as he answered the question like perhaps someone made him repeat that phrase repeatedly, ingraining it in the young boy’s mind. The small boy slowly got up from the ground. There were small scratches from tiny rocks on the driveway where he had hit his fist earlier. Aizawa made a mental note to sweep the driveway.

“Izuku?” Aizawa questioned and the small boy nodded, his green eyes shiny with tears, and his rounded cheeks had freckles highlighted by tear streaks.

“It’s nice to meet you,” The boy said, despite this the boy didn’t look into Aizawa’s eyes, instead looking at the other boy on the ground.

“Kacchan is three too.”

“Thank you” Aizawa gave the boy a smile but Izuku wasn’t looking at his face so it probably didn’t matter.

Aizawa looks through the papers given earlier and reads the file. The blonde boy’s name was Katsuki Bakugou, also three years of age.

“Katsuki,” Aizawa sat next to the blonde and the little boy stiffened.

“Katsuki, do you think you can get up for me sweetheart?” Aizawa said softly.

“Kacchan bedtime, need to get up!” Izuku said loudly, a complete 180 from Aizawa’s tone.

The boy stood and looked directly into Aizawa’s eyes, which kinda shocked him at first. Not for the sudden glare of anger but rather at the color of the blonde’s eyes, a dark crimson red. The boy had his shirt in his mouth chewing on the textured collar  

“That’s really good,” Aizawa smiled at him but Bakugou only huffed in response, softly scratching his neck. It was then that Aizawa noticed something he should of earlier, the boy had hearing aids behind his ear. Hard of hearing perhaps. Maybe that’s why he responded to Izuku’s loud voice instead of his soft tone.

“You two must be very tired right?” Aizawa asked loudly and Izuku nodded furiously, twirling his unruly hair in his tiny fingers.

“Very tired,” Izuku replied, copying the way Aizawa exaggerated the word very.

“Follow me, you guys are staying here tonight, it’s safe in the house don’t worry,” Aizawa told them but only Izuku seemed to be paying attention Bakugou was tracing the palms of his hands.

Izuku halfway reached for Katsuki’s hand, pausing just an inch away. After a couple of seconds, Aizawa was going to interfere and explain that Katsuki probably didn’t want anyone touching him but then Bakugou grasped Midoriya’s hand.

Izuku reached out his hand to Aizawa, still not making eye contact and instead looking at the front door. Aizawa grabbed his hand and led the boys through the front door and to their bedroom.

Now that it was finally quiet, Aizawa felt like he could see the boys. If he was honest he felt like he didn’t handle the situation earlier well at all. It was Izuku that got Katsuki to get up and walk with him. Actually, Aizawa was starting to question if Izuku Midoryia was even neurodivergent. Maybe the meltdown from earlier was a regular reaction to being taken away from home and dropped off at a stranger's place.

Aizawa thinks this because currently, Izuku was walking around the room, quietly looking at the girly posters of kittens in tutus and painted flowers on the borders of the wall. The bed was pushed to the wall to have room for a tiny horse stable complete with horses on the other side of the wall. All leftovers from Aizawa’s previous foster kid, a 5-year-old little girl.

Bakugou on the other hand was rubbing his hands on the soft pink sheets on the bed. Aizawa observed as Bakugou removed his hands and instead pushed his face down roughly against the soft fabric. He shakes his head left and right violently before slowing down to a halt. It was clear that he liked the texture of the smooth sheets and possibly even the fresh smell of flower-scented detergent.

“Are you okay kiddo?” Aizawa asked Izuku who was now grimacing at the white light from the ceiling.

“Too bright,” Izuku’s eyes watered and it was clearly an issue for him. Aizawa noted to buy dimmer lights.

“I’ll fix it tomorrow okay?”

Izuku nodded then walked next to Bakugou who still had a face full of sheets and had now added his hands to the mix. Face still and hands moving he felt the fabric against his skin which must have brought some comfort to him.

“Itsza bedtime Kacchan,” Izuku said and Bakugou lifted his face from the sheets. Unexpectedly he looked Aizawa straight in the eye, his face and eyes showing no hint of an emotion.

“Ready for bed Bakugou?” Aizawa asked and for the first time, the boy responded, not verbally but with a head nod. Aizawa smiled at him, hopefully, that was praise enough for his communication.

Aizawa lifted the sheets and urged Bakugou in, letting out a hand in case he wanted to use it as leverage to hop on. Instead, Bakugou used the bed and rolled over to the other edge, where he continued to rub his face on the pillow of the same fabric.

“Okay, now you Izuku!” Aizawa said with a smile but there was an angry huff behind him. He looked back at Bakugou whose angry glare had made a reappearance.

“What’s wrong sweetheart?” Aizawa asked the small little boy in front of him. Bakugou just sat up and hit the pillow with a hard smack, like he was punishing it.

“He needs two more pillows,” Izuku said and Bakugou let out a tiny sneer at his friend.

“Is that it Katsuki?” Aizawa asked the blonde directly since he clearly hated Izuku speaking for him. Bakugou gave a simple nod and Aizawa didn’t question it. It was very evident that these two extra pillows were important, Izuku wouldn’t know otherwise.

Two pillows and a struggle to find pillow sheets with the same fabric later. Aizawa gave the pillows to Bakugou and he set one pillow on the wall, fluffed up his head pillow, and used the final pillow to put between his knees. It was clear he was making a nest with the additional pillows, and that he was a side sleeper.

“Okay, now can you get in?” Aizawa asked, Izuku was frightened by the accidental eye contact he made with the man.

“Yes!” Izuku squeaked and quickly hopped on the bed and to Aizawa’s surprise moved his own pillow closer to Katsuki. That’s when he noticed Bakugou’s impatient hands tapping at his chest, maybe he needed a third pillow to complete his set? Aizawa thought he would turn around and use the pillow he set on the wall but that wasn’t it, that pillow was for back support against the wall.

Then something unexpected happened, Izuku laid down next to Katsuki, and Bakugou wrapped around Izuku’s body pulling the green-haired boy closer to him. Izuku was effectively the third missing pillow, Bakugou was now in a nest of his own creation with a human pillow to snuggle.

Aizawa held a straight face, not wanting to scare the kids with a sudden change of attitude. He figured that if he cooed at them right now Bakugou would do more than throw him another nasty glare. The whole bed was tiny sure, a twin size, but the way Bakugou was against the wall and Izuku was basically fused to him, made room for a whole other person on the other half of the bed.

Are they brothers? Aizawa pondered. They both certainly came from the same home and were accustomed to being in each other's space but they looked nothing alike. Blonde with red eyes and green hair with green eyes? Not impossible but surely unusual. He will read the papers provided to him in the morning. 

Izuku was already asleep by the time his head hit the pillow and Bakugou was blinking slowly as if he was struggling to keep his eyes open. They were both tired from the day they had. 

“Okay okay I’m going,” Aizawa reassured Bakugou who was apparently the cautious one, “Goodnight babes” 

All in all, day one was not that bad. He got them in bed just before midnight. A victory in Aizawa’s book. 

Audiobook in progress! A reader has picked up this fic and started reading it out loud on their YouTube channel! Their username is "The angel demon" and the playlist link for the chapters is:

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Chapter Text

Fuck the victory, scratch it out of the book. Everything went wrong. Everything went so very wrong. Nothing is okay, the whole world is on fire and the firetrucks all disappeared from existence according to this 911 operator. 

"They were just here!" Aizawa yelled into the phone, the 911 operator was seriously questioning him rather than doing anything helpful. 

Crack  

And now he crushed his phone with the force of his own hand. 

In front of the man was an empty bed, an empty bed that contained two small children no less than 6 hours ago. He quickly crouched down and checked under the bed for a fourth time. In fact, he was thinking of checking the whole house again. 

"Don't worry police are on their way and Pro Heros in your area have been informed," 

"Finally you're useful for something," Aizawa mumbled under his breath. 

"Excuse me?" The woman said but then there was a knock on the door. 

Shouta jumped up to his feet and ran to the door, almost swinging the thing off its hinges. 

"Shouta Aizawa?" A police officer asked and Aizawa responded with a rather harsh yes. 

"Two boys were found in the gas station down the street, a Taishiro Toyomitsu said they might be yours?" 

"Yes! Are they okay?" Aizawa asked but he basically yelled in a demanding tone. 

"They are...," the officer paused and immediately Aizawa felt sick to his stomach. 

"Wait no, they are fine!" The officer reassured Aizawa, seeing that his eyes were wide with fear, "They are just making a scene at the gas station, they weren't happy when they were caught stealing."

Enough was said between the two and Aizawa demanded he be taken to the kids as soon as possible. They were probably with another officer but the fact that they got away from Aizawa in the first place made the man nervous. 

They weren’t even in the car for a minute, the gas station they were at was at the end of Aizawa’s street and could hardly be called that. It was more of a corner store with one gas pump in the front. 

That didn’t matter though, what did matter was that he saw familiar blonde and green splotches on the other side of the frosted glass. The police car didn’t even come to a stop when Aizawa opened the car door and jumped out. 

“Whoa slow down! They’re fine!” Taishiro said as Aizawa almost bumped into the slow-opening automatic doors. 

“Katsuki! Izuku!” Aizawa exclaimed the boys' names which made them both flinch in surprise. 

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry, I won’t do it again! I promise!” Izuku cried out, tears falling from his eyes as he tugged his own hair harshly. Bakugou also had watery eyes but held a straight face looking hard at the floor. Instead of crying Bakugou took to biting his thumb, clearly knowing they did something wrong. 

“I’m IM SO SORRY I WON’T DO IT EVER AGAIN,” Izuku had reached a breaking point, Aizawa’s sudden appearance and knowledge of their bad doing was sending him over the edge. Thankfully the boy had stopped pulling his hair but now his hands were flapping violently at his sides while he jumped up and down, occasionally slapping hard against his chest.

“Izuku you are okay baby, calm down,” Aizawa tried to reassure the boy through his words, even kneeling down to his level but the boy wasn’t having it. If this was any other child he would’ve given him a hug to make him feel safe but he didn’t know if that would be the straw that broke him. 

“I DID A BAD THING, I’M SORREH,” Izuku hiccuped at the last word and that was it. The unpleasant sensation of losing control of his body sent him.  

Izuku threw himself off the floor, his apologies now intelligible yelling as he kicked his feet and hit his head on the solid floor. Aizawa cringed at the force the boy was using on himself and made the hard decision to move him. 

“I’m sorry baby but I have to move you, you’re hurting yourself,” Aizawa said gently but he knew Izuku wasn’t listening right now. 

Just as he predicted, the unexpected touch made Izuku scream in his high-pitched little voice. Just as quickly as he picked him up Aizawa set him down on the foot mat at the entrance of the store. Not the best place but the soft padding would help Izuku not hurt himself as much as the hard floor two feet away. 

Aizawa knew there was nothing he could do now, Izuku couldn’t hear him and anything he could do would make him spiral even more. Izuku needed to be left alone. Instead, he focused his attention on Katsuki who had his hearing aids in his palms and was tracing them with his fingers. Izuku was too loud for him right now. But besides that, he notched the collar on Bakugou’s shirt was slightly darker, it was wet but before Aizawa could question it Bakugou lifted his shirt to his mouth, chewing on the fabric.

Taishiro was patiently sitting next to the small blonde kid, who was tiny compared to the big man. Despite not knowing Katsuki’s situation, Taishiro didn’t touch Bakugou and instead let the boy run his fingers on the zipper of his jacket, the texture clearly taking away his mind from the trouble he caused. 

“You found them?” Aizawa asked as he sat down on the other side of Katsuki who was completely ignoring him.

“The store opens at 6 so I came in for some before-breakfast snacks, that’s when I found them shoving single packets of deserts in their clothes,” Taishiro told him, and sure enough there was a Twinkie in both Katsuki’s pockets. 

“I thought you left already? When did you get these two?” Taishiro looked hurt for a second and Aizawa couldn’t blame him. After all the fuss he gave him about missing his husband and the strict instructions on babysitting his cat for a couple of months, this happens. 

“They arrived last night, an hour after my flight was scheduled,” Aizawa sighed. 

“Don’t tell me, Tsukauchi?” Taishiro questioned and Aizawa just nodded. 

“Only man capable of making you stay.” 

“No, not him.” Aizawa looked at Katsuki who was still gently touching the zipper of the sweater and back to Izuku who was nowhere near calming down. 

The same police officer from earlier came into the store, carefully stepping over Izuku. Katsuki saw the new shadow and quickly looked at the officer. Bakugou’s eyes opened wide and he quickly put his hearing aids back on, cringing at Izuku’s cries. 

Aizawa noticed the strange behavior towards the officer and immediately thought the worst. Did they not treat them kindly yesterday? What happened before a social worker showed up? 

Before the officer could even speak Katsuki ran passed the officer his little feet scampering towards Izuku. That’s when Aizawa heard it, Bakugou's first words since he got here. 

“D-Deku, Quite Hans!” Katsuki shouted loud enough so that Izuku could hear him, his first word a stutter. 

Instantly Izuku went still, and his head stopped hitting the floor along with his hands and feet. Katsuki reached out his hand for the boy to grab and Izuku did.  Bakugou helped Izuku to his feet and walked to Aizawa the green one mumbling under his breath. 

“What is that Darling?” Aizawa asked and Izuku repeated himself louder. 

“Quiet Hands,” Izuku replied clearly but his body was shaking aggressively and it looked like his fist was too tight. The hand holding Katsuki’s looked pale with the force he was using on it. Although Izuku didn’t look him in the eyes he could feel the fear radiating off him. Even Bakugou the normally calm one was shuddering soft whimpers to match Izuku’s. 

Katsuki pulled Izuku more away from the officer and behind Aizawa. Surprising the man by holding onto his black pants. 

Katsuki looked into Aizawa’s eyes, and even though it held no emotion Aizawa knew instantly what Bakugou was asking. 

“They aren’t taking you away from me Sweetheart” Aizawa reassured the boy and the boy nodded looking away and instead glaring at the officer. 

“Isn’t that right?” Aizawa asked the officer in a more aggressive tone and the officer stiffened at the sudden hostility. 

“No you’re all good, I’m just going to write this down as an accident since there’s a record of your call to 911. But I do have to inform your boss about this,” The officer said and Aizawa nodded, that was reasonable but it still made his heart heavy. Never in his life had he lost a child.

Izuku was oddly quiet on the short walk home, holding onto both Katsuki and Aizawa’s hands. The boy’s hand was still shaking, correction, the boy’s whole body was still violently shuddering. 

Aizawa hoped that the boy would calm down once he reached home but once past the doors, he was still shuddering. Quickly Aizawa locked the door and even used the security chain at the very top, something he never used. He made a mental note to close the one in the back door before leaving the kids alone. 

“Quiet hands,” Izuku muttered to Bakugou and the blonde nodded.

“Izuku what do quiet hands mean?” Aizawa asked and the blonde looked him in the eye with a bewildered look in his eyes. Probably questioning if I’m stupid in his mind. Aizawa figured. 

“No move or cry or you gon hit me,” Izuku said in a whisper but Aizawa heard it as clear as day. 

Instantly Bakugou grabbed Izuku’s hand and yanked the small boy behind him. Izuku fell backward on his butt and closed his eyes in fear, cowering behind Katsuki. Bakugou on the other hand held up his palms in defense and held a foot back for support. It was clear to Aizawa that was meant for catching punches.

But why the sudden reaction? 

Bakugous eyes flickered between fear and anger as he looked at Aizawa and that’s when the man realized his lip was curled up in disgust. That was it. He looked scary because he was angry. Not at the boys but rather at whoever traumatized them to react that way. Normally Hizashi was here to take over, calmly talk to the kids, and let him walk away for a second to cool down. But Hizashi Yamada wasn’t here, it was just him and he had to get better control of himself. 

Aizawa took a second to pack his anger into a vault in his heart and to take a deep breath. He let his shoulders fall down, his fist unclenching from his previous anger. 

“It’s okay Sweetheart, I’m not mad at you two, I’m not going to hurt you,” Aizawa sat down on the floor in front of Katsuki, the self-proclaimed protector of the small green-haired boy behind him. 

“I’m sorry I scared you,” Aizawa said in his soft voice and Katsuki huffed, letting down his defensive pose. 

Midoriya still kept to the floor muttering the phrase quiet hands over and over again. 

“No Izuku, no quiet hands, do what your body needs,” Izuku looked at Katsuki and Aizawa saw that he made eye contact with the blonde. Was it trust? Bakugou just nodded with the confidence that Aizawa wouldn’t hurt them. 

Midoriya instantly broke down crying, rocking himself back and forth while hugging himself on the floor. This is what he needed and Aizawa respected that, he understood him. 

Kastsuki sat next to Izuku pulling a Twinkie out of his pocket and gently sliding it next to the crying boy. It was obvious he was the only one who stole anything from the store, Izuku didn’t have the heart to steal for himself. 

“Bakugou, why did you steal from the store?” Aizawa asked but Katsuki didn’t answer. 

“I know you can talk,” Aizawa said slowly since he didn’t know the extent of the boy's speech. 

“Hungry.” The boy said simply. 

“You could’ve just asked me, I would’ve fed you,” Aizawa told the boy and he instantly looked up to his eyes. His eyes are wide with bewilderment for the second time in the last hour. And it took everything in Aizawa not to let anger rise to his eyes again. To imagine that simply giving him food would bring this much shock to a boy who hardly shows emotion.  

“Yes really,” Aizawa answered the question in Bakugou’s eyes and the boy nodded, silently opening and eating the Twinkie he stole.

Chapter Text

It took a half hour for Izuku to calm down again, as well as calm as he could be after a meltdown. The boy had stopped his crying and was now quietly eating his Twinkie at the dining room table. However he was still roughly pulling his green curls with his free hand, obviously he was still upset. 

Bakugou stayed standing next to the pulled-out chair adjacent to Midoriya. Carefully eyeing Aizawa with a straight face. Aizawa stared back and noticed that the boy was clenching his right fist, it was shaking a bit. 

"Do you have something?" Aizawa questioned and the boy shook his head no. 

"Let me see," Aizawa urged and Bakugou stayed still for a moment before opening his palm and raising it to Aizawa for a better look. 

Aizawa let out a small gasp as he saw trace amounts of blood in the little's palm. Bakugou tilted his head slightly to the right, confused by the man's expression. 

"Can I touch your hand?" Aizawa asked and the boy nodded. 

Aizawa gently kneeled down and moved Katsuki's hand for a better look. Nail marks were going straight down the palm, skin slightly torn with force. The bleeding was almost nonexistent except for the red in the pulled skin. 

Aizawa knew immediately what caused it, the little nail imprints were from Izuku squeezing Katsuki's hand too tightly on the walk home. The awkward way Izuku held hands matched where the wounds were. All the internal struggle he held in found a small escape in the tight grip of his friend. 

Aizawa got up and quickly ran to the restroom, opening the mirror to the shelf behind it. He grabbed the small first aid kit and rushed back to Katsuki. 

"This might sting but it's going to help," Aizawa told Bakugou loudly, making sure the blonde could hear him. Nervously he opened an alcohol wipe and pressed it against Bakugou's torn skin. 

To his amazement, Bakugou stayed still and looked him straight in the eyes without change. Aizawa thought the boy would be in shambles by now, yelling out from the unpleasant burn. 

"Does it hurt?" Aizawa asked and Bakugou didn't answer. So instead of pushing his luck, Aizawa wrapped the hand in a bandage. 

"Kacchan okay?" Izuku let out a soft whimper from the table, his Twinkie was now finished as he stared. 

Bakugou nodded at him, raising his hand to show the boy his freshly wrapped palm. 

"How does a real breakfast sound Izuku?" Aizawa asked and the boy held confusion in his eyes. 

"Food makes a sound?" Izuku asked and Aizawa stifled a laugh. 

"I meant if you want me to make you something to eat?" 

"You going to make food?" Izuku asked, eyes wide with excitement, "For me?" 

"Yes," Aizawa smiled but then Izuku's expression changed. The sudden excitement left his eyes and was instead replaced with a dark gloom. 

"For Kacchan?" Izuku asked in a smaller voice his breath starting to shudder. 

"Yes darling, for Bakugou too," Aizawa replied, not disregarding the implication that sometimes one was fed while the other wasn't. 

"Quiet hands quiet hands," Izuku muttered to himself as his excitement returned. 

Aizawa frowned at this, and the boy held still to his chair. Grasping the sides of the seat and mumbled to himself. 

"It's okay Izuku, no quiet hands," Aizawa reassured him and Izuku looked at Katsuki who was climbing the chair to sit next to him. 

"Quiet hands?" Midoriya asked Bakugou and the blonde shook his head no. 

Izuku jumped off his chair and started to bounce on his heels, flapping his hands happily. These were different from his meltdowns, these movements were fast but not violent. Instead of smacking his chest the boy softly tapped his collarbone every now and then. 

As Aizawa started cooking a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast he saw Bakugou playing with the table mats on the table. They were made of plastic and had a lined texture for better grip. Bakugou was rubbing his hands on them, loving the feeling of the ridges on his backhands. 

"Almost done," Aizawa said as he put the scrambled eggs on two plates. One pink plate with floral patterns and another pink one with Barbie on it. 

"Food!" Izuku exclaimed and his movements changed, his body suddenly stopped what it was previously doing and he did what Aizawa could only describe as a dance of sorts. Izuku's hands were at his sides but slightly away from his body, feet apart. It was his legs that did the dancing. He swayed left to right with his feet glued to the ground bending one of his knees then the other. Aizawa was reminded of video games, Izuku looked like he was in an animation.  

Aizawa set down the Barbie plate in front of Bakugou who had taken his face off the mat at the introduction of food. The floral pattern was set on Izuku's mat and the young boy quickly jumped up his seat and picked up the small metal fork beside it. 

"Yummy food!" Izuku exclaimed as he shoved some egg in his mouth, using his free hand to tap on the table. 

Bakugou looked at his small metal fork on the plate and grabbed it. But instead of using it, he placed it on the side and instead picked up bits of egg with his fingers. Bakugou huffed angrily and let go quickly, waving his hand around for a second before rubbing his index and thumb together viciously. 

Bakugou let out a whimper as he rubbed his fingers on the table. The slightly oily texture of the eggs made him grimace. 

"Use the fork sweetheart," Aizawa told the blonde and handed him a napkin, which the boy used to get the remaining oil off his fingers. 

"No!" Bakugou exclaimed and slapped Aizawa's hand away, along with the fork. 

"Bakugou, we don't throw things," Aizawa scolded him but didn't change his tone. Bakugou huffed angrily and glared at the fork. 

"Just try it," Aizawa handed the fallen fork back to Bakugou who hesitating took it into his hands. 

As Bakugou slowly grabbed a piece of egg with the fork Aizawa looked back at Izuku. The green one seemed to be eating fine and using the utensils correctly. 

Thud  

Aizawa was shocked when Bakugou suddenly slammed his fist on the table. There were tears in his eyes as he bit down on the metal fork. Aizawa cringed as the boy instinctively bit harder and shook his head. 

"Let go Katsuki!" Aizawa shouted as he tried to help the boy get the fork out of his mouth. Once he did manage to let go the fork fell out of his mouth and to the ground. 

Bakugou whimpered as he repeatedly slapped his mouth with the palm of his hand.

"Shh it's okay, you don't have to use the fork!" Aizawa reassured the small boy and grabbed his arm so he would stop smacking himself but the boy just shoved Aizawa away. 

"Kacchan hates metal on his teeth," Izuku said in between bites, not sparing a glance away from his own food. 

Now he tells me Aizawa let out a sigh. 

Aizawa went to his pantry and got out a plastic spoon. It was a white generic one, the kind you get when you have a birthday party. Granted it was too big for the three-year-old's little hands but it was much better than the metal spoon he gave him. 

"Here try this one," Aizawa asked and Bakugou held still. Bakugou grabbed the fork and let out a final shudder before trying the new fork. Aizawa watched more carefully this time and observed that once Katsuki put the food in his mouth he bit down on the fork while sliding it out of his mouth. Aizawa cringed at the thought of doing that with a metal fork, he would've freaked out too. This could easily be fixed by teaching Bakugou how to use a fork correctly but Bakugou was just a kid. 

"Better?" Aizawa asked and Bakugou huffed. 

The sound of the toaster finishing made Aizawa flinch, he had forgotten about that. Quickly he spread some butter on the two pieces and set one on Bakugou's plate. Then he set one on Izuku's half-finished plate. 

That's when all hell broke loose. Izuku started to scream and it shocked everyone in the room. Even Bakugou suddenly jumped at the sound before taking off his hearing aids. 

"What's wrong?!" Aizawa asked as the boy started to scream louder, tears streaming down his cheeks. Izuku's face turned red as he whined before screaming again.

“Stupid!” Bakugou yelled out at Aizawa. 

“Huh?” Aizawa let out a confused sound and he would’ve laughed at Katsuki’s sudden word if it were not for the screaming child next to him. 

“Stupid fuck!” Bakugou yelled out again, glaring at Aizawa with anger. 

“Bakugou!” Aizawa scolded but of course, it fell on literal death ears, the blonde boy couldn’t hear him right now. 

Bakugou reached over to Midoriya’s plate and pulled the toast off the eggs, setting it down on the table. Izuku stopped screaming but still had shuddering whines escaping his throat. Izuku picked up his fork and poked his food, there were crumbs from the toast on his eggs. Izuku let out a whimper as he pushed his plate away, more tears falling from his face. 

“I’m sorry darling, your food was touched and it was my fault,” Aizawa softly whispered to the boy before grabbing the plate and setting it farther away from the green boy. Luckily there was still some egg in the pan, Aizawa’s share. 

Aizawa set down a whole different plate in front of Izuku, this plate was a pure soft pink color. The boy picked up his fork and touched the scrambled eggs in front of him. Slowly he grabbed a piece and put it in his mouth. 

“Thank you,” Izuku mumbled as he chewed his food slowly. 

“You’re welcome, such a good boy with manners,” Aizawa praised. 

Bakugou huffed, his hearing aids were back in. 

“You’re such a good boy too Sweetheart, helping Izuku with his plate,” Aizawa made sure to praise the blonde too, he was clearly helping out earlier. 

The rest of breakfast was calm, everyone ate their fill, except Bakugou didn’t touch his toast. Instead giving it to Izuku who happily ate everything on his plate, as long as it didn’t touch. 

Bakugou finished his plate first, one would assume because he didn’t eat his toast but the truth was that Izkuku was a slow eater. The boy would take a bite and slowly chew it, never having too much food in his mouth at once. 

“Still hungry?” Aizawa asked Bakugou as the blonde stared at the banana on the counter table, it was in a bowl along with other fruits. 

Bakugou nodded and Aizawa grabbed the fruit and peeled it halfway before giving it to the boy.

Once Bakugou took a bite his eyes shined at the fruit before him. His free hand smacked the table softly multiple times, slowly increasing hits each time he took a bite and slowly decreasing as he chewed. 

Once Bakugou finished, he just pushed his plate away along with the peel. He put his face on the table mat again, the ridges pulling his skin softly each time he moved. This continued as Aizawa washed the dishes and waited for Izuku to finish eating. It looked like the banana was the blonde’s favorite fruit by the way he savored it. 

“Can we see TV now?” Izuku asked as he finished his plate, pushing it away from him like Katsuki did. 

“Of course darling,” Aizawa led the boys to the couch and turned on the television. Luckily there were some cartoons on this early, granted it were boring educational cartoons but it was better than nothing. 

Bakugou hopped on the couch, testing the texture of the couch by rubbing his hands on it before sitting down. Izuku on the other hand remained standing swaying side to side.

Bonus Meme I Made:

If Aizawa were to take the boys to the museum, Bakugou would 100% eat the banana and call the artwork trash

Chapter Text

Aizawa watched as Midoriya walked around the coffee table, mumbling as he traced the rug with his steps before stopping where he started. Bakugou was too busy watching the television to acknowledge what the other boy was doing. Instead, Bakugou's eyes were fixed on the television as he bit his nails. 

Izuku traced around the rug one more time and happily flapped his hands. That's when Aizawa realized he was counting his steps and had arrived at the same number as his first go around. Izuku tapped his belly a couple of times before climbing on top of the couch. Izuku tried to sit next to Katsuki but once the kid started head-banging on the soft couch Bakugou roughly pushed him away. Aizawa was worried that maybe Izuku would whine at the sudden harsh movement but the green boy simply picked himself back up. 

"Sorry," Izuku muttered before moving to the other end of the couch where he started his head banging again. This time the hits were softer, the kid was adjusting so the blonde wouldn't feel the couch moving. 

Now that the boys were settled down Aizawa sat down at the dining room table. Taking this opportunity to look at the papers given to him last night. 

Katsuki Bakugou

3 Years Old 

Birthday April 20th 

Notes: 

-Neurodivergent (Possible) 

-Hard of hearing 

-Trouble with speech? Possibly non-verbal

The notes were short on the boys, seeing that it was just a few key information and Aizawa wondered if maybe he would get more papers as his friend investigated the boys' situation. Instead of wondering Aizawa read the notes on the green-haired boy. 

Izuku Midoriya 

3 Years Old 

Birthday July 15

Notes

-Neurodivergent (Possibly Autistic?)

-Hates Bright Light

-Avoids eye contact

And that was it on the two boys, no record of immunization or even official documents. Usually, there was more to go by but this was an emergency placement. Less than 24 hours ago they were surviving on their own. Aizawa trusted that Tsukauchi would bring the rest of the papers some other time and hopefully an update on their situation. 

All he knows is that these two survived by themselves at home for a couple of days maybe a week or two. Aizawa paused as he remembered Tsukauchi's words, they were alone with dead bodies. Instantly scenarios appeared in his mind. Did these two see the dead bodies? How long did they stay in the house before going out to look for food? Aizawa's mind stopped the awful thoughts when the doorbell rang. 

"Ding Dong!" Izuku yelled out, still looking at the TV. 

Aizawa opened the door and it was no other than the man himself, Tsukauchi. The man held a full trash bag in one of his hands, Aizawa assumed it was the kid's clothes. 

"Rough morning? You look like you need some coffee!" Tsukauchi smiled brightly at Aizawa before holding out a cup that was in his other hand. 

"They told you already?" Aizawa asked as he took the cup from the overly cheerful man. He glanced at the clock in the kitchen at 8:32. 

"About those two runaways?" Tsukauchi asked rhetorically as he pointed to the two kids on the couch. 

Bakugou glared at Tsukauchi, scooting over to Midoriya's side. Izuku glanced at the man for a second before looking at Bakugou who just huffed at him. Izuku started humming to himself and rocking in his seat, his hands that were once idle on his sides were now pushing down on the couch. Bakugou who was only biting his nails earlier now had his thumb in his mouth chewing softly. 

"Yeah I started to use the chain on the very top," Aizawa assured him. 

"It was your first accident in the last few years, and honestly we didn't give you any information. This won't change anything." 

"Any info on them?" Aizawa asked. 

Tsukauchi opened the trash bag and pulled out some papers. The rest of the bag contained clothes and other items. 

"Here's some copies of their records." 

"I meant what happened to them before they got here." 

"Sorry, it's still under investigation. Don't wait up on the details Shouta, that's not your job," Tsukauchi said but Aizawa still wanted to know. 

"How are you guys?" Tsukauchi asked as he walked to the living room. 

Izuku squeaked as the man got closer to him, reaching out to Bakugou's hand who quickly accepted it. Izuku kept his eyes locked on the TV, rocking more violently. 

"Katsuki? You okay there?" Tsukauchi asked the blonde, noticing the bandage on his palm. 

"Just a scratch," Aizawa piped up from behind Tsukauchi. 

"Is that true Bakugou?" Tsukauchi asked and Aizawa felt a bit of betrayal in his chest. But of course, he knew it was unwarranted, it was the man's job to ask questions and keep kids safe. 

Bakugou looked straight into Tsukauchi's eyes and sneered angrily at him. Though after a moment he nodded, communicating that he was fine. 

"Going home?" Izuku squeaked out, his free hand finding its way to his green curls. 

"Um," Tsukauchi thought about what to say but before he could form a sentence Aizawa took over. 

"No, you aren't going back. That place isn't safe anymore. You're going to stay with me for now," Aizawa laid out the harsh truth to both the boys. Tsukauchi's smile had completely vanished and instead, his lips formed an irritated line. Aizawa never lied to kids, no matter how terrible the truth was.

To Aizawa's surprise, it wasn't Izuku who started crying. Instead, the quiet Bakugou had huge tear drops falling from his eyes. The boy angrily wiped them away from his face and was visibly vibrating. 

"Bakugou are you okay?" Aizawa asked but the boy didn't respond, it looked like he was zoning out. 

"Katsuki Sweetheart please respond," Aizawa tried again in a slightly louder voice, in case the blonde didn't hear him. 

"He's probably taking it pretty hard, that was his house," Tsukauchi said and urged Aizawa to follow him to the dining room for a sit-down. 

Aizawa watched as the blonde let go of Izuku's hand, choosing to curl up and lay on his side. His thumb was back in his mouth as he started chewing it once again. Aizawa took one last look at the two boys who were at the edge of having a meltdown, then decided that for the best he had to leave them alone. 

"His house?" Aizawa questioned as he took the seat in front of Tsukauchi. 

"Yeah, Katsuki lived there for the past three years with his mom and dad. They were the ones police found dead at the scene. Izuku didn't live there until recently. About 7 months ago, both Izuku and his mother were in a car accident. The boy survived unscathed but his mother sadly passed away due to her injuries. Mitsuki Bakugou is Izuku's godmother and has been taking care of him till now along with her husband." 

Aizawa processed the words being said to him.

"They were both found dead? Are you thinking a villain murdered them?" 

"Shouta, you know you're not allowed that information," Tsukauchi said firmly. 

Before Aizawa could ask more there was a ringing of a phone. Tsukauchi picked it up and talked about meeting some other person for work, probably a foster parent. 

"Gotta go," Tsukauchi said and waved a small goodbye before returning to his phone. The man left Aizawa alone and pointed at the trash bag, reminding him of its existence. Aizawa got up and locked the door behind the man, not chancing another escape. 

Next was the bag, when Aizawa opened it he was immediately met with different kinds of clothes. Pajamas, t-shirts, shorts, pants, and undergarments. They were freshly washed and dried by the smell of detergent. These clothes were from the boy's previous house, someone must have picked them out and washed them. 

Aizawa looked at what the boys had now, they were matching with basic clothing. No named brands or patterns, just simple white shirts and light brown pajama pants. Standard clothing that was probably bought quickly at some store, just in a pinch to properly wash the boys before being dropped off.

Aizawa thought about changing the boys' clothes right now, they weren't dirty but it felt wrong to leave them in the same clothes they slept with. However, Bakugou was already distressed from Tsukauchi's visit and Izuku was barely holding on himself. 

"And that's a wrap! Thank you for watching Leo's Number World!" The voice on the TV concluded its programming, the clock striking 9:00 as it did so. 

"And that's a wrap!" Izuku mimicked the words of the television, hopping off the couch and walking around the rug again mumbling the number of his steps. Aizawa made the connection that maybe that's where Izuku learned how to count. The man himself didn't pay much attention to the show they were watching but recalled hearing multiple instances of counting. 

Bakugou who still had tears in his eyes quickly got up and grabbed the remote from the coffee table. The tv turned off with a press of the power button. 

"There's still some cartoons I can put on," Aizawa told the boy, thinking maybe the boy didn't know about the other channels. Bakugou shook his head no while wiping away his tears instead he looked at the crayons and paper just under the TV stand. 

"Playtime!" Izuku piped up running down the hall and into their bedroom. 

"Hold on Darling!" Aizawa called after Izuku and ran after him. 

"No play?" Izuku asked slowing down in front of the toys displayed in the bedroom. 

"Yes play, just bring them to the living room where I can watch you," Aizawa said and Izuku jumped excitedly up and down. 

A pang of guilt ran through Aizawa as he realized the two boys were surrounded by girl stuff. With all the toys, the sheets, and even the color of the walls, it was evident that a girl once lived here. Aizawa's heart felt sore as he thought about the browned-haired, pink-cheeked girl he fostered for the better part of a year. Aizawa looked at the ceiling that still had foam padding, the girl had a gravity quirk and she often awoke sleeping on the ceiling. 

Aizawa was brought back to the present by Izuku's excited squeal. The little one had found a pro hero plush of All Might, something Aizawa had won at a carnival with the girl. 

"All Might!" Izuku grabbed the small plush and hugged it, squeezing the fabric with all his strength. 

"You like Pro Heros?" Aizawa asked and the boy shook his head up and down excitedly. 

"You want anything else from here?" Aizawa asked and Izuku looked around his eyes locking onto a plastic horse from the small stable. The boy grabbed it and ran back to the living room, Aizawa trailing behind. 

"Kacchan! All Might!" Izuku said excitedly and Katsuki turned to see him. Bakugou's eyes instantly shined bright as he caught a glimpse of the plush in Izuku's hands. 

"Wanna share?" Izuku asked handing Bakugou the plush but the boy just huffed turning back to the coffee table. The little boy had successfully grabbed some blank paper and a box of crayons and markers. 

"Play after?" Izuku asked and Bakugou nodded, it was obvious he was interested in the pro hero All Might as well but didn't want to abandon his started project. 

Aizawa looked at the paper in front of Katsuki, hoping to see some pictures from the blonde's mind. There wasn't much of an image, more of several different shapes of different colors. Like an oval that was meant to be a circle and other attempts.  

Seeing that Bakugou wasn't going to play with him that instant Izuku set the toys on the floor. He grabbed a paper from the neat pile on the table and picked up a marker. 

Aizawa switched on the light of the living room so the boys could have a better look at their papers. Izuku squealed at the harsh white light lifting his hands to his face, marking his face with the marker. 

"Too bright!" Izuku cried out as he rubbed his eyes with a tiny fist. The lights went out as Aizawa turned the switch off again. 

"Sorry babe, how about this light instead?" Aizawa asked pulling the chain of a lamp that was next to the couch. Dim orange light lit the room and Izuku uncovered his eyes. 

"Better?" Aizawa asked and Izuku nodded getting back to his drawing. With that Aizawa moved the lamp to the coffee table, making sure the cord wasn't in their way. Midoriya started to draw with his right hand but his left began to tap all his left fingers on his thumb repeatedly as he focused. All his energy was escaping through his fingers as he held himself still while standing on his knees, his right foot occasionally jerking side to side.

Izuku's drawing was different from Bakugou's but somehow similar. The two drawings were the same in the sense that they didn't draw anything scenic like most kids their age. Different in that Izuku didn't try to mimic known objects, but rather grouped lines and swirls, occasionally changing color.

Crunch

Aizawa looked at Bakugou as he spat out a pen cap. The boy had gotten it from the box of mixed crayons, pencils, and pens. Luckily though it was just a pen cap and not the actual pen which could’ve exploded ink in the boy's mouth.

”Let me see, open your mouth,” Aizawa kneeled down to Bakugou who spat out a final piece of plastic. Aizawa sighed in relief as the boy showed his mouth, no plastic shards left behind in his mouth. Aizawa did note the scars on the inside of the mouth cheeks, mostly on the left side. This was caused by mindless chewing that didn’t result in open wounds but still caused scarring. 

“Don’t put things in your mouth please Bakugou,” Aizawa scolded softly, mostly because he felt it was his fault for not noticing the blonde had put something in his mouth. Bakugou just gave out an annoyed huff as Aizawa grabbed the tiny pieces of plastic and threw them away. 

With the boys preoccupied Aizawa took the chance to sit on the couch and order groceries to be delivered. There wasn't much in the fridge right now since he wasn't planning on being here. He also added a couple of other things, like some boy toys, dimmer light bulbs, and plates with a divider. 

"Bathroom!" Izuku shouted jumping up, he just realized last minute that his body was telling him to go pee. 

Aizawa jumped up from his seat and followed behind the young boy, opening the correct door and letting him in. Izuku hurriedly pulled down his pants and tried to climb the toilet with no success. 

"Let me help," Aizawa entered the restroom and sat Izuku on the toilet, turning away respectfully. That's when he remembered the stool in the hallway closet, something he stored away since it was no longer in use. 

Luckily the closet was right next to the bathroom so it only took a second to grab it along with a kids' toilet seat accommodation that could readily be taken off and on. 

Splash

Unfortunately by the sound of a soft splash next door, it was a little too late for that. Aizawa walked to the next room and saw Izuku trying to pull himself up from the toilet. His legs were up and his whole back was wet along with his bum. 

Izuku whimpered at the sudden sensation of water on himself, luckily Izuku just peed and didn't have anything else on him. 

"Let's clean you up, is that okay?" Aizawa asked and Izuku nodded lifting his arms towards the man, asking for help. Aizawa picked him up at set him in the tub a feet away, taking off his soiled clothes. Aizawa's face cringed at the state of the boy's body, he knew the kids were skinny but Izuku's ribs stood out more than they should for a healthy weight. 

"I'm sorry," Izuku mumbled pulling his curls harshly. 

"It's okay babe, accidents happen," Aizawa reassured him, "give me one second." 

Aizawa left the boy alone in the safety of an empty tub just to take a look back in the living room. Bakugou was still on his knees drawing on the paper in front of him. Completely ignoring the commotion happening behind him. 

"Izuku fell in the toilet, I'm going to wash him up real quick. You stay there, okay Bakugou?" Aizawa said slowly to the boy, grabbing some clothes from the trash bag still at the entrance. The blonde just huffed, keeping focus on the task in front of him. 

Chapter Text

"All done," Aizawa said as he put a fresh shirt over Izuku's head. The boy didn't mind the shower as much as Aizawa expected him to. There was some arm flapping in distress of the water on his face and a couple of distraught whines but that was the extent of Izuku's complaints. 

As they both made their way back to the living room Aizawa had a small heart attack as he realized he couldn't see Bakugou at the coffee table. 

"Bakugou?!" Aizawa yelled out and heard a loud thud in the kitchen. Once he turned the corner he saw Bakugou curled on the ground. A chair from the dining room table was pulled out next to the sink, the blonde had been climbing on the counters. 

"Bakugou! Are you okay?" Aizawa helped the blonde to his feet, not asking for permission as he gently looked for injuries to the boy's head. 

"Kacchan?" Izuku touched the boy's shoulder which Bakugou jerked away from with an angry huff. 

"Are you hurt?" Aizawa asked and the boy huffed again. 

"Bakugou give me a straight answer, are you hurting?" Aizawa asked again, changing his tone to a more stern one. 

Bakugou shook his head no but Aizawa noticed that he held one hand behind him. Did the fall break his wrist? 

"Let me see your hands, now" Aizawa stressed the last word with a harsh tone but instantly regretted it. Bakugou began to tremble, tears starting to form in corners of his eyes. The blonde pouted as he extended his hidden arm in front of him. 

In his hand was a small box of raisins. Aizawa looked up at the cabinets and sure enough, some were slightly opened. The boy had moved the chair, jumped up it, and successfully climbed the counters to open the cabinets. The sudden call of his name must have caught him off guard causing him to slip and fall. 

"You wanted a snack?" Aizawa asked Bakugou who gave no answer. Izuku was nervously rocking on his heels behind the silent kid. 

"Time out?" Izuku questioned as he held his own hands against his chest, now rocking on his toes. Bakugou let out a whine as he handed the box to Aizawa, refusing to look into the man's eyes. 

"You can have it, just ask next time. You could've gotten hurt kiddo," Aizawa said softly and patted the blonde's head but the action only resulted in Bakugou roughly pulling away. 

"Can I have some?" Izuku asked with eyes wide, now bouncing in anticipation. 

Before Aizawa could answer Bakugou handed his box to Izuku. It seemed that the boy was used to sharing his food with his green-haired roommate. 

"Here have your own," Aizawa said as he grabbed another small box of raisins from the cabinet. 

When Aizawa handed the blonde his own box of raisins, he saw the boy do something he hadn't seen before. Once the boy grasped the box in his hands he smiled and happily shook his fist in front of his chest. Izuku noticed Bakugou's expression and smiled wide as well, copying Katsuki's actions as he shook his fist too, jumping up and down in addition. They seemed a little too overly happy to receive a small snack.

"When you are hungry, I'll give you food. Just ask, I don't want you two to get hurt trying to get it by yourselves," Aizawa told the boys, looking specifically into Katsuki's eyes. 

"You will not hit us?" Izuku asked reaching his hand to the back of his head and holding it there. The implication was enough to fill Shouta with anger but he held face, not wanting to scare them.

"No babes, I won't hurt you," Aizawa assured Izuku, trying not the grit his teeth.

"Kacchan too?" Izkuku questioned once more, his breath hitching as he asked. Aizawa took a second to look back at his past words, he should've added the word ‘two’ at the end of his last sentence. It was becoming more obvious that in the future he needed to explain clearly what he meant to Izuku, context clues not existing in the boy’s head. 

"I will not hurt Izuku or Katsuki, never ever," Aizawa said louder, making extra sure Bakugou could hear him. 

"You promise?" Midoryia softly muttered, not believing the stranger who suddenly took him in. 

"I pinky promise," Aizawa added, sitting on the floor and holding out his pinky finger. Izuku's eyes instantly lit up at the movement, the grand gesture of a pinky promise was a significant exchange in children's eyes. 

Aizawa couldn't help but smile wide as the green-haired boy readily interlocked his small pinky with his. Izuku giggled as Aizawa softly shook his hand up and down, completing the deal. 

"Bakugou, this promise is to you as well," Aizawa told the blonde who was still a little skeptical as seen in his untrusting eyes. 

Aizawa raised his pinky to Bakugou along with Izuku whose pinky stayed interlocked with his. After a second of consideration, Bakugou hooked his own pinky along with Aizawa's and Izuku's. 

"yubi kiri genman," Aizawa started singing, exaggerating a stoic look on his face, "If you tell a lie drink 1000 needles and cut my finger off," Shouta finished the song that went along with pinky promises, commonly heard from children on a playground. And even though the lyrics were dark, this time he saw both the boys' eyes shining, implementing the song must've solidified the promise in their minds. 

It was at moments like these that Aizawa remembered why he took this job, to keep that innocence in their eyes from completely vanishing. 

Chapter Text

Something must have clicked in Izuku's head after Aizawa's heartfelt promise because now the kid was practically teleporting around the room. One minute he'll be eagerly playing with the All Might plush and the other he would be jumping on the couch. Bakugou on the other hand was still quiet, instead of moving around like Izuku he stayed on one part of the mat with multiple plastic horses. The little girl Aizawa had fostered before had a special interest in the animal and since it was the only toy in the house the boys had drag them out to the living room. 

The blonde was lining up toy horses by size, large to small. Except one of the horses had unadjustable legs and the hooves were in a gallop making it difficult to make it stand on its own. This frustration made Katsuki make an angry clicking sound from his mouth. The boy tried standing it a couple more times before angrily hitting the floor with one of his fists. 

"Fuck," Katsuki said angrily as he tried one more time to set the horse in a standing position. 

"Bakugou sweetie, please don't say bad words," Aizawa told the boy while helping him stand the horse up, it was wonky but technically standing on its own now. Katsuki clapped his hands softly looking at Aizawa with wide eyes. Aizawa took to interpret that as a thank you. 

"Nice job Bakugou, all lined up," Aizawa praised and Izuku ran over to admire Katsuki's work. 

"That is not all the horses, there is seven horses, and there is only six," Izuku piped up counting the horses again and again to make sure he wasn't mistaken. 

Aizawa looked at Bakugou who noticeably rolled something in his mouth. Aizawa watched in horror as the boy spat out a small plastic horse. The boy wiped the horse on the ground, simultaneously wiping his own saliva off the figure and his fingers.  Aizawa noted to take out any toy smaller than the boys' mouths out of their reach.

"What did I say about chewing small stuff, you can choke," Aizawa told the boy as he set the tiny horse in front of the line. Bakugou let out a huff in disagreement and put his shirt in his mouth chewing on that instead as he realigned the horses in different order. 

"Kacchan play with me!" Midoriya got closer to Bakugou jumping up and down excitedly as he held out the plush Allmight to the blonde. The blonde grabbed the plush but instead of playing pretend, he hugged the plush, putting tremendous pressure on the action. Aizawa immediately thought of Izuku's first reaction to the plush, it was the same. 

"Bronze Age," Katsuki stated after letting go and looking at the All Might plush. Relief fell over Aizawa's shoulders as he realized the little blonde was speaking more.

"Yeah Kacchan! It's his Bronze Age suit! You can tell by the red and black colors!" Izuku said excitedly flapping his hands. 

"You two are really smart!" Aizawa praised the boys as they correctly identified the pro hero's uniform. Izuku jumped up and down with the praise while Katsuki simply nodded like he already knew that. 

Ring Ring Ring

Aizawa took out his phone and sighed at the name, Hizashi Yamada. There was a new weight on Aizawa's shoulders, this time it was the weight of being a bad husband. 

"You boys stay here, Bakugou don't put anything you mouth while I'm gone," Aizawa said. 

"Don't worry I'll watch him!" Midoriya piped up, hoping to be praised again. Bakugou on the other hand shot Izuku a nasty glare that went over the green one's head. 

Aizawa walked outside to the front porch, watching the boys from the window as Izuku tried to engage Katsuki in play. 

"Hello?" Aizawa answered the call that was only a ring away from disconnecting. 

"Did you even think of me?" Hizashi's voice came out in a whisper and it made Aizawa's blood cold. This was not what he was expecting, this was so far from his husband's cheerful nature. Aizawa expected Hizashi to be angry, but the more he thought about it he wasn't expecting anger, not from the calm Hizashi. It was more like he wanted Hizashi to be angry because that would be better than the sad tone coming from his phone. 

"Of course," Aizawa said slowly there was a pause that lasted an uncomfortable ten seconds before he decided to break it, "It's just that Tsukauchi said there was no one else, these kids needed a place to stay, it's just for one week I'll meet up with you." 

"Shouta, is this really only going to last one week? If the agency had no choice but you that means there's no one trained to take them in." 

"There's someone in training right now, they'll have a license soon!" Aizawa said lightheartedly trying to sound cheerful. 

"This was more than just a tour," Hizashi added almost like it was an afterthought. 

"I know," Aizawa said simply knowing that nothing he could say would stop the disappointment in both their hearts. The phone made soft distorted sounds of wind as Hizashi walked somewhere. 

"How's the view?" Aizawa asked, knowing that Hizashi was alone on the balcony of a luxurious hotel. Where there were probably rose petals and champagne on soft red silk sheets with the petals leading to the outside. He knew that because they had both joked about purchasing the lover's edition while choosing out the first hotel in their planned honeymoon. 

"Bitter," Hizashi answered, looking at a dark sea with clouds hovering above him. 

Aizawa stayed silent, thinking about how his lover was alone and how it was his fault. He wanted to be there, he wanted to be asleep right now in Hizashi's arms so they could both wake up hours later. To see the sunrise in Hizashi's eyes, to see the greens glow bright like shining emeralds with the light of a new sun. 

"They needed me, Yamada," Aizawa said out loud and he didn't know if he was convincing Hizashi or himself. 

"Yeah I know, you're still a hero in that way," Hizashi tone was a bit lighter but still held a heavy weight of irritation. 

Aizawa took a glance in the window to check on the two boys who were last seen playing on the rug. The scene before him solidified that these two boys were undoubtedly problem children. Without warning Aizawa hung up the call and swung open the door. 

"PLUS ULTRA!" Midoriya shouted as he jumped off the couch handrest, his feet on course to jump onto Bakugou's defensively outstretched hands. 

Before the boys could injure themselves Aizawa used his quirk and outstretched his scarf to wrap around Izuku's arms and waist. The boys watched in awe as Aizawa suspended Izuku in the air for a couple of seconds before softly sitting him on the floor. 

"You have a quirk?!" Izuku asked excitedly as he watched the scarf return around Aizawa's neck. 

"Quirk!" Bakugou said loudly getting closer to the man. 

"What is it? Can you float things? My mom-" Izuku started to ramble but the sudden thought of his mother made him silent. 

"I want my mom, when will she pick me up?" Izuku started to cry as he realized he hadn't seen his mom in a long time. Katsuki noticed the boy's tears and grabbed the All Might plush from the floor, shoving it roughly into the boy's arms. 

"Soon," Bakugou told a lie but Aizawa didn't know if the blonde believed it himself or actually knew the truth. Maybe Bakugou picked it up from his own mother who most likely lied about what happened to Midoriya's mom. 

Aizawa made the hard decision to break the truth to the boy. If Izuku thought that his mother was going to pick him up it could lead to complications for adoption. If a family came and decided to adopt him, he would have trouble connecting to that family and most likely fight them on the matter. 

"Izuku," Aizawa started off slowly pausing when two green eyes peered into his soul, "Your mom isn-"

"Shut up!" Bakugou cut Aizawa off stepping harshly on the man's foot. It was clear that the promise they made this morning was only one-sided. Katsuki's crimson eyes burned lasers into Aizawa's head as the boy used his body weight to step even harder. 

"Okay okay," Aizawa agreed rethinking his decision, this was too much for the first day anyway. Izuku looked up at him confused, holding a second of eye contact before frantically looking away. 

“It’s not important right now,” Aizawa said and the boy took his word for it. However, Izuku was rocking on his toes with his curls in a tight grasp in his own fist. 

“You want to know my quirk?” The man asked and just as planned the boys' eyes lit up again. 

“I can only float my scarf if I use my erasure quirk,” Aizawa said wondering that maybe his power was too confusing for the boy to understand. 

“Erasure?” Izuku questioned suddenly standing still and tilting his head, Katsuki copied the boy with puzzled eyes. 

“I can erase someone’s quirk if I look at them, like this,” Aizawa activated his power, his eyes shining red as he did so. His hair floated up along with a couple of strands of his scarf. 

“So the floating is an extra part of using your quirk?” Izuku asked a new excitement in his eyes as he stared at Aizawa’s floating hair. The boy closed his eyes in deep thought and held his chin with his hand. 

This sparked a new aspect of Midoriya’s personality, something that Aizawa hadn’t seen beforehand, and made him question if the boy had been holding back his speech all along whether it be because of the new environment or being secretly cautious. 

“How long does the float go, you catched me from at least 10 step away, but how more far can it go? Red eyes will make it hard to use your quirk without villains knowing, and can see glow eyes when dark out so no night missions?” Izuku started to mutter to himself, imagining how Aizawa’s quirk could work if he was a Pro Hero. Katsuki huffed at Midoriya’s long-winded sentences as the green boy went on and on. Bakugou’s jaw clenched, grinding his teeth in annoyance, his eyes glaring at the boy in contempt. The blonde was probably mad that Izuku was talking too much and in a low voice making it hard for Katsuki to understand him. 

“Can it!” Bakugou basically barked the two words as one. 

“Sorry Kacchan,” Izuku apologized. 

Chapter Text

Ding Dong

Before Izuku could ramble more about Aizawa's quirk, the doorbell caught the attention of everyone in the room. The boys quickly got away from the entrance and ran back to the rug in the living room, choosing that place as the designated safe zone. Aizawa on the other hand was quick to open the door. 

"Delivery for Aizawa Shouta!" A cheerful girl was on the other side of the door holding multiple grocery bags on her arms along with some on the floor. 

"Thank you for your work, I can take it from here," Aizawa said and the young woman passed over the bags in her arms to him. 

"Hope you have a good day!" The lady said before departing. 

"You boys want to help with the bags?" Aizawa called out as they eyed the bags on the floor. They both ran to the doorway, grabbing a bag each which was enough weight for them to carry. 

Aizawa set the bags on the dining table, gently grabbing the bags from the boys' hands as they passed them to him. Aizawa tried his best to not come in contact with the kid's hands but his knuckles grazed Katsuki's as he retrieved the bag from him. As expected Bakugou recoiled his hand away from Aizawa which made the grown man kinda sad. 

"Last one!" Izuku piped up as he ran to open the door, racing Katsuki for the last bag on the doorstep. Midoriya giggled as Bakugou ran after him quickly surpassing him in speed. 

"Eek!" Izuku squeaked as he skidded to a stop behind Bakugou. 

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you, I just forgot a bag," The young woman from earlier said as she sheepishly extended an extra bag in front of the boys. Bakugou took a look at the bag but backed up, clasping his hands together, and holding it against his chest. 

"Stranger!" Izuku called out to Aizawa. Izuku let out a distressed whine, his hands curling up to his chest like a t-rex. 

"Just the delivery girl, go ahead and grab the bag," Aizawa assured the boy but Midoriya didn't budge, instead he grabbed onto the back of Bakugou's shirt for comfort, one of his hands still to his chest. Bakugou sneered and glared as he backed away from the girl, not liking the sudden social situation he was put in. 

"Come on guys, I thought you were brave, you know like All Might," Aizawa said teasingly, testing the boys' skills to new situations. This however gave way to an amazing result. 

Bakugou suddenly straightened up at the question of his bravery and took Aizawa's words as a challenge. Izuku also took on the weight of Aizawa's words and walked out from behind Katsuki. Regardless of the facade of Izuku's newfound confidence, the boy was shaking as he looked up to the delivery girl. His eyes met hers for a couple of brave seconds before getting overwhelmed and looking away. The two boys reached out their hands simultaneously up to the woman. 

"Such brave boys," The young girl cooed at the two pouting boys in front of her. She set the bag in Izuku's hand which made Bakugou huff in annoyance, but then she set the bag on the floor into Katsuki's hands so he could also be rewarded for his bravery. 

"Thank you," Izuku squeaked trying to give the woman a smile but it was too shaky so he stopped. 

"T," Katsuki started, "T-tha, t-t." The boy stuttered the T sound over and over again, his lips quivering each time. The boy grasped the bag in his hand harder as he let out an angry growl. 

"T- t t t," Katsuki stuttered again, his face getting red as he got angrier at every attempt. 

Aizawa noted that his speech seemed to get more shaky in situations of high emotional distress. Starting with the uncomfortable feeling of speaking to a stranger then getting worse as he got annoyed with himself. The lady gave Bakugou a patient smile, a worried expression on her face as she noticed his struggle. 

Slam

Before the lady could say anything Bakugou slammed the door in her face, not even letting the woman give a proper farewell. Aizawa wanted to correct Katsuki's behavior but he feared that if he scolded him now it would discourage social interactions in the future.

"Good try Bakugou, you two were very brave." Aizawa instead chose to praise the boy for his effort. 

"It's okay Kacchan! You know words!" Izuku tried to comfort Bakugou but that only made Katsuki glare at the green-haired boy with spite. When Midoriya didn't get the message, Katsuki shoved the boy with his shoulder, making sure Izuku was behind him. 

The boys quickly hurried back to the kitchen, handing their bags to Aizawa before climbing the seats for a better look at the merchandise. Their eyes shone at the food as Aizawa pulled it out of the bags. 

Aizawa cheerfully stocked up the fridge and pantry, and by the look of bewilderment on Katsuki's face, he didn't know the small door beside the fridge was a pantry. This explains why he chose to climb to the cabinets first that morning rather than checking that door, Aizawa just figured that maybe at his old house, they had an open pantry, one that wasn't hidden.

"That looks like the one at Auntie's house!" Izuku exclaimed as Aizawa pulled out a blue plate with dividers, leaving it in the sink to be washed. He took out other plates with the same feature, all in neutral cool colors. There were also kid utensils all made of plastic for Bakugou's benefit. Some sippy cups and cups with straws in the cover all in boy prints of dinosaurs or bears and other so-called masculine creatures. 

As Aizawa washed the new dishware, Izuku fidgeted in his chair, tapping on the table with his fingers and humming under his breath. Katsuki on the other hand looked at Aizawa, a look of dejection in his eyes. 

"What is it Bakugou?" Aizawa questioned the boy, it looked like something was troubling him. Bakugou's crimson eyes darted around nervously before landing back to Aizawa. This was new to Shouta, it was new behavior from the blonde. 

"Hungry," Katsuki choked out, his arms crossing over his head immediately after uttering the word. Izuku stopped his fidgeting and looked at Aizawa's hands, waiting for the man's next move. Katsuki's breath started to hitch as he waited for Aizawa's response. 

"It's okay sweetheart, remember our promise?" Aizawa questioned softly and after a second Bakugou peeked a glance at the man's eyes from under his arms. 

"I promise I won't hurt you or Izuku," Aizawa repeated his promise which seemed to calm the blonde down. Katsuki let his arms fall back down, rubbing his knees back and forth with his hands to comfort himself. 

"We can eat again?" Izuku questioned and flinched when Aizawa looked in his direction.

"Yes, you can eat when you are hungry, don't be afraid to ask," Aizawa tried to dispel some of their fears but it was clear that it was going to be a challenge. 

Aizawa looked at the clock, it was currently 12:35. In his head the man started to make a schedule for the boys. If they eat breakfast at around seven a.m. then they will be hungry again five hours later. Although he should plan to give out snacks in between those times too. 

"Do you want mac and cheese and some chicken nuggets?" Aizawa asked and Izuku immediately started to happily flap his hands. 

"We get to have both?" Izuku questioned excitedly not noticing that he was making eye contact with the man. Aizawa could see Katsuki tapping his feet together under the table, he was excited about these options as well. 

"Yeah!" Aizawa said as he raided his freshly stocked pantry along with his freezer. 

It took a while for Aizawa to prepare the food but the boys were having fun in the living room. Along with the groceries delivered were some random miscellaneous items as well. Like the mega blocks, Katsuki was currently tapping them together and aligning them on the floor. Aizawa thought about legos but decided against them because of Bakugou's obsession with putting non-food objects in his own mouth. Izuku on the other hand was more of a pretend player, grabbing the newly bought dinosaur toy and making it gallop around himself. The boys didn't really engage much in each other's play but rather found comfort that they were playing together in the same room. 

The only time Aizawa saw them actually play together was when Midoriya offered to play Heroes vs Villians with Bakugou. It was the only game so far where Katsuki actually interacted with Izuku in touch and sounds. They would take turns being the pursuing hero while the other ran around trying to escape as a villain. Bakugo won the better half of these pursuits, being much quicker than Midoriya. 

Aizawa had almost burnt himself on the stove when he first heard Bakugou giggle and laugh. When he looked over he saw that Izuku was chasing Bakugou around, almost catching him but missing by a few centimeters. The thrill of the moment made Katsuki excited enough to actually laugh and have a smile on his face that reached his eyes. But as soon as he spotted Aizawa's eyes he stopped in his tracks, his face falling to the same emotionless scowl. Aizawa cringed as Izuku crashed into the suddenly still Katsuki both exhaling an oof of air. 

"Sorry Kacchan," Midoriya said as he got off the blonde, Bakugou just huffed rubbing his head with his hand. 

Aizawa turned back around to hide the emotions growing inside his chest, he didn't understand why Bakugou was so secretive with his feelings. It was obviously learned behavior. Quiet hands, fear of asking for things, sudden stillness when being watched by adults. Aizawa didn't want to assume things but since Izuku wasn't as quiet as Katsuki it made it obvious the majority of their trauma came from living at the blonde's house. 

"Come on kiddos, food's ready!" Aizawa said knowing it was the only way to bring the smile back on the kids' faces. As expected the boys ran to the table as they saw the plates being placed in front of their chairs. Izuku squeaked as he realized that both their sippy cups were All Might-themed and were filled with apple juice. 

"Yummy," Izuku said as he put a spoonful of macaroni in his mouth, Bakugou opting to eat the chicken nuggets first. 

Chapter Text

"You want seconds?" Aizawa asked, Bakugou's plate was empty and he was chewing the plastic spoon he was given. Although he wouldn't be surprised if he was just chewing to chew. 

"Yes," Bakugou muttered and Aizawa put an extra scoop of mac and cheese on his plate along with a few more nuggets. The blonde began to slowly eat, taking sips of apple juice every now and then. Izuku seemed to love this meal because every now and then he would let go of his spoon for a second to happily clap his hands, his face was pure delight. 

Izuku still had half his plate filled since, as seen before, he was a slow eater. Aizawa had a theory that maybe he ate very slowly because he was counting his own chewing since the boy did love numbers.

After a few minutes, Izuku finished his plate but before Aizawa could ask the kid if he wanted more Bakugou put one of his extra chicken nuggets on Midoriya's plate. 

"Thanks Kacchan!" Izuku happily ate the extra nugget. 

"Was that enough?" Aizawa asked them and Izuku nodded but Bakugou shook his head no. 

"You want more Katsuki?" Aizawa asked the blonde and he nodded. Izuku stared as he sipped on his apple juice, rocking in his chair as he waited for his friend. 

Aizawa set the last couple of nuggets and a few more ounces of mac and cheese on Bakugou's plate. And even though Izuku said he had enough to eat it appeared like Katsuki didn't agree because he started to put another chicken nugget on the boy's plate. 

"I'm full Kacchan," Izuku stated, apple juice pouring down the side of his lip since he was still drinking. 

"Eat," Katsuki ordered and the green-haired boy couldn't deny him, so he ate the chicken nugget anyways. Katsuki grabbed a spoonful of the macaroni from his plate and turned the spoon to Izuku, which made the boy whimper since the food didn't come from his own plate. 

"Midoriya's full sweetheart, do you not want your food?" Aizawa asked and the boy quickly grabbed his plate and moved it closer to himself. 

"I'm not going to take it," Aizawa reassured the boy who was sneering at him, if he could the boy would've growled at the man. 

"I'm sleepy," Izuku piped up rubbing his eyes with his fist. That's right Aizawa thought they are still at the age where they need naps. 

"Want to take a nap in the bed?" Aizawa asked and the boy nodded barely keeping his eyes open. 

"Come on then," Aizawa said as he walked next to the boy, offering his hand to hold. It was more of an instinct so when the boy rejected it he didn't take it personally instead he just led the boy back to the bedroom. 

It took a minute for Izuku to climb the bed in his sleepy state but once he laid down he was out like a light. The unfortunate problem is that he passed out all crooked and Aizawa had to adjust the boy to a better sleeping position that would not hurt his neck when the lad woke up. 

With one down Aizawa walked to the kitchen hoping that Katsuki was finished eating so he could set him off for a nap as well. The rugged man turned the corner and for the second time that day, he saw the dining room chair turned to the cabinets. This time though Katsuki was still standing on it, his little hands wrapped around the big scooping spoon. The blonde was using the said spoon to eat directly from the pot on the stove. 

"Bakugou!" Aizawa called out in concern, the stove was off but the pot was still at an unsafe temperature. Bakugou jumped back in surprise causing him to wobble on the edge of the chair. Katsuki looked into Aizawa's eyes, fear flashing in his as his feet wobbled one last time before giving in and falling backward. 

Aizawa activated his quirk without thinking, the scarf wrapping around Katsuki's waist catching him inches off the ground. Bakugou's eyes were shut tight and it took a second before he realized he was suspended in the air. 

"Twice in one day? You seriously need to stop climbing the cabinets kid," Aizawa sighed, these two kids were proving themselves as trouble. 

"N-no," Katsuki whined as he struggled to free himself from Aizawa's scarf. 

"You are okay," Aizawa reassured as he let the boy down on his feet. 

Aizawa tried not to chuckle at Bakugou's cheese-covered face, if the boy was still hungry he would've fed him more if he just asked. 

Katsuki's face grimaced as he took a step back, he looked paler than usual and was holding his stomach, slightly crouching. 

“You okay?” Aizawa asked Bakugou who was looking at the floor and shuddering. 

Blehargh

A mixture of chicken nuggets, macaroni, and apple juice exited the boy's mouth and landed on Aizawa’s shoes. The man put on a straight face, not wanting to show disgust or even a hint of displeasure. Katsuki was fragile and if he saw anger in the man’s eyes it could send him into a panic. 

“There there,” Aizawa said as he patted the boy’s back but Katsuki flinched at the sudden touch. Immediately Aizawa’s hand retracted back to his side, it was difficult for him to remember not to comfort without permission. 

“You okay kid?” The man asked and the boy peered up at him, shame covering every inch of his face. 

“It was an accident, you just ate too much and your stomach couldn’t handle it. Let’s go get you cleaned up,” Aizawa said gently and the boy nodded following the man to the bathroom. 

The quick shower was easy. Aizawa noted in his mind that Katsuki was skinner than Izuku, and they were both underweight. The only fat they had on their body was on their face, their cheeks still had their round shape which meant they weren’t totally starved. 

Unlike Midoriya, Bakugou seemed to enjoy showering, closing his eyes and peering his face up at the shower head. The boy even smiled as the drops of water fell on his face, each drop sending a wave of stimuli through his pores. The only thing he did mind was the actual washing part, but since Aizawa asked permission and didn’t rush the blonde's answer, Bakugou bared with it. 

Aizawa dried the boy off as best he could and unlike his green counterpart, that seemed to be the blonde's favorite part. The kids' towel Aizawa bought had a softer texture than a regular towel so the boy basically dried himself as he rolled around in it for fun. It took a second before Aizawa could convince the boy to stop chewing the towel so he could properly dry the boy's hair.

Katsuki yawned as Aizawa slipped a shirt over his head, his mouth catching on the collar of the shirt. The boy didn’t mind the mistake instead he grabbed on with his teeth and chewed it. 

“Want to nap?” Aizawa asked the kid and Bakugou nodded walking towards the kids' bedroom. 

Katsuki hopped on the bed and roughly pulled back the cover from Izuku. The green-haired boy opened his eyes, slowly blinking at Bakugou before rolling away from the wall. Katsuki huffed at the boy as he arranged his pillows the way he needed them to be. When his nest was completed, Katsuki gave Izuku a nudge and this prompted the boy to scoot closer to the blonde. And just like when Aizawa first put them to bed they cuddled together like two kittens. 

At the thought of kittens, Aizawa smiled at the scene before him. This however prompted an annoyed click of the tongue by Bakugou with an accompanying sneer. 

“Goodnight,” Aizawa said as he put the cover back over the boys. Katsuki keeps his eyes open until the moment Aizawa partially shuts the door. 

With the boys napping Aizawa felt the need to call his husband, to apologize for the abrupt ending of their call. Except the man was a coward so he didn’t. Instead, he decided to look up why Bakugou always seemed to chew things and maybe tips on how to stop the behavior. 

After a couple of Google searches, Aizawa figured out that Katsuki was just stimming. In hindsight, it did make sense, but Aizawa was afraid that the boy might choke on something so he searched for a solution and found out about chew necklaces. Then he saw that there was a store nearby that sold them along with other items Aizawa deemed helpful. So like the good foster parent he was, Aizawa ordered a bunch of these objects to be delivered as soon as possible. 

Once the man placed the order he figured he should do some chores while the boys were still taking their nap. There was vomit on the floor in the kitchen, his shoes needed washing along with Katsuki’s clothes. Then of course the dishes need to be washed. Aizawa let out a tired sigh, he wished he could also nap during nap time. First things first, he promised Izuku he would change the bright light bulbs for dimmer ones, so he started his chores with that task. 

Chapter Text

Aizawa sat back down on the couch, bulbs were changed, messes cleaned and now he could relax for a second before the two troublemakers woke up. As soon as Aizawa's shoulders relaxed back into the couch an irritating knock came from the door. Aizawa opened the door and found his neighbor, Taishiro Toyomitsu.

"Hey there Shouta, I was wondering if you wanted your cat back, you know since you're staying," Taishiro asked his voice teasing the last part. 

"I'm not staying its just for a week, but yeah thanks. I would love to spend a couple more days with her," Aizawa said grabbing the carrier from Taishiro's hand. 

"I just got a call I'm getting a foster kid tomorrow so I'm taking today to clean. Your cat was already stressed from being with me last night and I didn't want to overstress her while I cleaned the house from top to bottom." 

"It's no problem, thanks for agreeing to watch her in the first place. They finally placed you with a kid?" 

"Yeah a five-year-old boy, I can't wait!" 

"I'm glad you finally got approved for being a foster, just don't get too attached, it’s alright to have fun, it just hurts when they get adopted," Aizawa spoke softly, reminiscing about the girl he took care of for the better part of a year. Taishiro gave Aizawa a small smile, remembering the many times they came over for dinner at his place. 

"I'll keep that in mind, but it's only a temporary situation. The boy's parents are under investigation and his siblings are being held somewhere else," Taishiro explained. 

"Siblings? Why can't they house them together?" Aizawa questioned. 

"I asked the same thing, but since I'm a new foster I can only foster one at a time and only temporarily. There's a lack of foster parents in Japan. So the older siblings are temporarily getting sent to a group home." 

"They still would've placed the kid with his siblings if they were that much older, they could watch over each other." Aizawa knew he didn't know the full details but from what he knew this situation was unusual. 

"Well, he can't be sent to a group home because he needs routine medical care. I'm not allowed to say anything else," Taishiro said softly with a sad look in his eyes. 

"Ah that makes sense," Aizawa didn't push any further, Taishiro was equipped to handle the situation. 

"Well, I'll see you later Shouta," Taishiro gave Aizawa one last smile before turning and walking away. 

"Bye, good luck tomorrow!" Aizawa gave the man some last words of encouragement before closing the door. 

Green and red eyes peeked through a door from the hallway. The boys were awake and were watching from their room, eyes laser-focused on the carrier in Aizawa's hands. 

"You can come out, there's someone I want to introduce to you guys," Aizawa piqued their interest successfully since they slowly walked out into the hall. Izuku kept behind Katsuki as they inched towards the carrier. 

"This is the woman of the house, Lady," Aizawa told them as he opened the carrier door. Instantly Bakugou's eyes lit up as the cat peeked out. Lady was a sand-colored cat with long fur and light green eyes. In some ways, she reminded Aizawa of his husband. 

"Lady!" Bakugou said her name perfectly as he watched the cat crawl out of the carrier. The boy was so overwhelmed by his excitement that he had to rapidly shake his already trembling hands. 

"It's a kitty cat!" Izuku squealed happily as he jumped up and down, eyes wide and teeth grinning. 

Izuku shot out from behind Katsuki and ran to the cat, wanting to pet her. The sudden movement and the fact that this new tiny human was in her house seemed to stress Lady out, so instead of a friendly greeting, she let out a vicious hiss. Izuku backed away at her warning and looked up at Aizawa, rejection in his eyes along with some tears threatening to come out. 

"You need to ask her permission or she will get mad, look like this," Aizawa explained and crouched down to their level, he extended his arm out, his palm making a small arch. This is how he trained Lady to accept or decline pets. The cat excitedly walked to her owner, tail up as she rubbed her head up to Aizawa's palm as a greeting. That wasn't enough though because she immediately skipped to his feet, purring as she rubbed her scent on his legs. 

"Ask or she gets mad? Like Kacchan?" Izuku questioned and Aizawa could help but laugh at the comparison. Despite the same rule applying to Midoriya himself, the man didn’t have the need to correct him. 

"Yeah, like Katsuki," Aizawa agreed, the blonde tilting his head in confusion at the joke at his expense. 

Katsuki walked closer to Aizawa before kneeling down and extending his arm. It was clear that the blonde was paying close attention to Aizawa's explanation. The way Bakugou arched his palm was exactly the way Aizawa had done and his effort proved successful. 

Lady eyed the blonde boy for a second before walking up to him. At this point Aizawa could see the happiness in Katsuki's eyes, his hand twitched as he held in his exhilaration. The boy was trying so hard to be still but was visibly vibrating as the cat got closer. Lady rubbed her head against Bakugou's palm and that was it, Katsuki couldn't hold it in anymore. Instantly he smiled wide and squealed with delight as Lady purred against his hand. 

"Soft!" Katsuki stated as Lady allowed him to pet her back. 

"Can I try?" Izuku questioned, rocking on his toes and flapping his arms impatiently. 

Katsuki nodded and jumped up from the ground, flapping his arms more energetically than Aizawa had seen from him so far. 

Izuku crouched and arched his palm like he saw Katsuki do. The cat was slower to respond to him due to the improper introduction earlier but came around to him. Sniffing his hand before putting her head on his palm, accepting the green boy as a guest. 

"You're right Kacchan, she is soft!" Izuku rubbed his hand down her fur rapidly but made the mistake of going too fast and petting in both directions instead of just petting her fur down. Lady let out a displeased meow as a warning which caused the boy to instantly stop. 

"You need to pet her slowly and only pet her fur down or else it doesn't feel nice," Aizawa explained and the boy nodded before trying again. Aizawa was glad the boys were gentle with his cat, he was secretly worried that he would have trouble introducing them but it was working out for the most part. 

"Lady stay here?" Bakugou questioned. 

That was a sentence, a badly formed sentence but a sentence nonetheless. These were the first words out of Bakugou's mouth that were a proper question rather than a demand, statement, or curse words. 

Progress. 

“Yes, this is her home,” Aizawa stated and the boy’s hand trembled with excitement. There were even some tears forming in his eyes as his body got overwhelmed with emotions. Katsuki looked away from the cat for a minute, needing to take a moment to breathe and relax from the intense feeling. 

Chapter Text

Over the course of a couple of hours, the boys followed the cat around the house. They found her toys and tried to engage the cat in play. It was clear the cat was annoyed by her two new admirers because, after hours of unwanted attention, she climbed to the very top of a bookshelf. Lady looked down at the two boys, the end of her tail flicking around as they peered up to her. 

"She needs space," Aizawa explained as the cat turned around and decided to take a nap on top of the bookshelf. 

"You boys want to play outside?" 

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Izuku jumped up and down in circles. Katsuki looked at Aizawa and gave him a firm nod with excited eyes, his hands close to his chest in an excited fist. 

The time was seven thirty, the sun had already painted the neighborhood with orange and yellow tones a while ago and signaled there was only about an hour before the dark of the night. Aizawa chose for them to be in the front yard, mostly so they could memorize the front of the house if they do decide to miraculously escape again. 

"Rocks," Bakugou stated as he bent down next to the bushes surrounded by pebbles. Katsuki rubbed his hands on the smooth rocks in a circular motion. 

"Do not put anything in your mouth," Aizawa warned the blonde who returned him an annoyed click of the tongue. 

Bakugou played with the rocks, picking them up and letting them fall to the floor. The boy would move his ears closer to the ground as he let go of the rocks, the impact making a sound that was pleasing to the boy's ears. 

Izuku walked around the edge of the lawn, humming while counting the steps in his head. Aizawa began to wonder how high the boy could count to. Being three, almost four, it wouldn't be impossible to know numbers at his age but actually grasping the ideology of said numbers was a huge milestone. 

"Don't go into the street!" Aizawa called out Midoriya who jumped in surprise at the sudden shout. 

Aizawa opened his garage and pulled out a broom, he said he would sweep the driveway last night. Izuku finished the perimeter of Aizawa's property and quickly made his way back to Bakugou. This clicked something in Aizawa's brain, that maybe counting was more of a compulsion than a fun activity. It seemed like Izuku needed to count the steps around a play area before he could step in it and have fun. He saw the same thing happen earlier, walking around the rug in the living room before playing there. For now, he just noted it in his head, he will write it down for the next foster so Izuku can be properly diagnosed by a doctor. 

Bakugou was done hearing the rocks fall and was lining the rocks in a line. The boy looked as Izuku got closer to him and once he reached him Bakugou held up a rock. Midoryia nodded and started to line up the rocks with Bakugou. Aizawa noticed that they were making a pattern, Izuku would put down a brown pebble and Katsuki followed it with a gray one. 

"You guys like chalk?" Aizawa asked as he brought out a small case of different colored chalk. With the driveway swept it was clean of leaves and sharp pebbles and safe for them to play on. 

"Colors!" Izuku immediately ran over and when he grabbed the box from Aizawa's hand there was a moment of trust. When their fingers brushed together in passing there wasn't a jerk reaction like usual. Midoriya didn't show any signs of fear nor did he look back at Katsuki for reassurance. The boy was no longer hesitant to approach the man whom he met less than 24 hours ago. 

Progress

With Katsuki close behind him, Midoryia sat the box perfectly in the middle of the driveway so they could share the space evenly. Bakugou however instead of drawing on the concrete got intrigued by the texture of the chalk on his skin. He put a piece of orange chalk between his hands and rubbed it together till his hands were coated. 

"Can I help?" Izuku asked as he noticed Katsuki trying to color himself. Instead of scolding them for getting messy, Aizawa let them go through with their plan. It was important to encourage Katsuki into social play rather than the parallel play the blonde was used to. 

"Not the face, it'll hurt your eyes," Aizawa warned and the blonde gave him a knowing huff.

Midoryia rubbed different colored chalk up and down Bakugou’s arms, coloring him in with the chalk dust. By the end of it, Katsuki was a rainbow of different colors from his arms down to his legs. 

“So cool Kacchan!” Izuku’s eyes sparkled at his friend as Katsuki admired his coated hands and legs. The boy looked like he was thrown into a tye-dye machine. 

With his hands Katsuki made orange palm prints on the driveway, Izuku quickly coated his own hands to mark his own prints. Funnily enough, Midoriya chose to use green to match his hair along with his eyes. By the time the chalk wore away from their hands, they made a decent amount of hand prints all around themselves. 

“Kacchan let’s mix our hands!” Izuku asked and lifted up his hand, Katsuki took a second before moving his hand up and high-fiving the boy. 

“It’s brown now,” Izuku stated his voice sounding disappointed by the new color.

“Like dirt, my hand is dirty now,” Izuku became more aggravated as he rubbed his hand on the driveway, the chalk not completely coming off. 

“Kacchan I’m dirty,” Izuku complained but Katsuki was too busy mixing chalk on his skin with his hands, creating color combinations. Luckily Aizawa was in the middle of watering the bushes. 

“Come here darling, I’ll wash it off,” Aizawa called out and the boy scampered over. 

“Thanks…,” Izuku paused his eyebrows furrowing as he tried to remember the name of the man. 

“My name is Aizawa,” The man offered a reminder and Izuku nodded washing his hands under the hose. 

“Thanks, mister Aizawa,” Izuku said quickly, turning away and running back to Katsuki. 

Aizawa wanted to play with the kids, to show them how to play properly but he knew that would only upset them. They had their own versions of play that made stuff fun for them and Aizawa was still just a stranger to them. 

Katsuki was drawing shapes on the floor now, a couple of circles and squares in different colors. Izuku dried his hand on his shirt before grabbing the corresponding colors and filling in Katsuki’s empty shapes. 

“Good,” Katsuki gave Izuku a subtle praise that didn’t go over the green one’s head. Instantly Midoriya’s eyes lit up and he let out a little squeal of happiness, his hands shaking as he continued to fill the empty space in Bakugou’s drawings. 

They continued like this for a while, Katsuki drawing different shapes and Izuku filling them in with the same matching color. A good portion of the driveway was filled with their combined efforts of drawings but the sun had already set and it was getting dark. 

“You boys ready for dinner?” Aizawa asked and immediately two heads snapped toward him. 

“We get to eat again?!” Izuku asked not believing that he got to have three meals today. 

“Yeah! Well… first you need to bathe again,” Aizawa said and Izuku frowned, the green boy didn’t like to bathe. Katsuki on the other hand couldn’t have looked any happier, he was practically shaking. Whether it was the mention of dinner or a bath Aizawa couldn’t tell but he guessed it was both. 

Chapter Text

As predicted Izuku didn't like bath time. The little boy refused to get in the water-filled tub, even with the inviting bubbles that Aizawa could've sworn were a reliable bait. Katsuki on the other hand entered the water with no hesitation, playing with the bubbles by making a beard on his face. 

"Come on Midoryia, don't you want to be clean?" Aizawa asked knowing that the boy hated the thought of being dirty. 

"I don't wanna be dirty," Izuku became distraught with the implication but still eyed the tub with blatant contempt. Izuku shivered as another minute passed by without his clothes on. 

"Kacchan," Izuku whined, asking the blonde to help out. Maybe if he asked Bakugou, the man wouldn't make him plunge into the tub's abyss.  But of course, Bakugou couldn’t hear him, his hearing aids were out since they were not waterproof. 

Katsuki saw the distressed look on Izuku’s face and reached out his hand offering a helping hand. Izuku let out a final cold shudder before whimpering once more and grabbing Bakugou’s hand. Slowly the boy sat down in the water making sure to keep his back straight so his head didn’t get wet. 

Katsuki made Aizawa anxious each time the blonde would dive his head down and hold his breath. Midoriya seemed to relax as he counted the seconds between each of Bakugou’s attempts. 

“So cool Kacchan!” Izuku exclaimed as the boy held his breath for almost half a minute, an extraordinary amount of time for a small child. 

“Why don’t you try bud?” Aizawa asked Izuku who immediately frowned at the suggestion. 

Aizawa didn’t push Midoryia further, the boy was tightening his fist at his sides and slowly rocking back and forth. If he continued the boy could have a meltdown and have a negative experience to add to bathing. 

“Bakugou I need to wash your hair now,” Aizawa said even though Katsuki couldn’t hear him. Instead, he tapped the boy on the shoulder and the blonde gave him an angry sneer. 

“Shampoo,” Aizawa simply said, pumping some kids' shampoo from a bottle he bought earlier. At this, Katsuki relaxed his face and seemed to understand the silent instruction. 

Katsuki kept glaring at the man as he put the shampoo on his hair, it seemed like he was purposely not blinking. It was like Bakugou wanted to make sure Aizawa knew that he himself didn’t trust him, not enough to close his eyes. Even when Aizawa rinsed Katsuki’s hair the boy didn’t close his eyes, he just squinted at the man as the shampoo flowed off. 

Izuku played around with the bubbles as he waited for Aizawa to finish up with Katsuki. He would grab a handful of bubbles and gently blow on them to send them flying. This continued until Aizawa had properly washed Bakugou’s body with a red loofa and asked Midoryia permission to do the same to him. 

Seeing how Izuku hated water on his head, Aizawa opted to wash his body first to leave the worst part for last. Izuku quickly stood up for that part, glad to have an excuse to have his head farther away from the water. 

When Aizawa was finished Izuku held some tears in his eyes, knowing that he had to wash his hair at some point. The boy was shaking in fear and gripping his fist tightly against his chest.

“Just play a bit longer and then I’ll wash your hair,” Aizawa told Izuku who immediately sighed in relief before sitting back down next to Katsuki. 

The boys played in the tub for a while longer as Aizawa went to grab his phone. The man was trying to research a way around Izuku’s problem with water on his head. As he headed back to the bathroom he heard the boys playing more freely. Splashing around more than they were under his watchful eye. Aizawa peeked around the corner and saw Katsuki smiling as he splashed water around, Izuku giggling as small droplets hit his face. That made it apparent that Izuku didn’t hate water in his face, it was the thought of being submerged that bothered him. It was clear that the boys had more fun when he wasn’t around and it made Aizawa think that their past caregivers weren’t too keen on them being rowdy. 

“All Might!” Bakugou’s sudden shout surprised everyone.

“All Might where?” Izuku’s eyes lit up at the mention of their favorite hero. Katsuki just dipped his head back under the bubbles and quickly resurfaced. 

“All Might drowning!” Katsuki said quickly with a hint of urgency in his voice. 

“No! Not the number one hero!” Izuku let out some giggles as he realized Bakugou was just pretending. 

“Save him!” Katsuki yelled out as he went underwater again, this time pretending that he was the drowning All Might. Aizawa had heard Bakugou speak but this was a decent amount of sentences in a short time. Was it because he felt safe with Midoryia?

“All Might noooo!” Izuku squealed in laughter as he desperately tried to grab Katsuki from the depths. 

The water shifted around as Bakugou threw himself around, gasping big fake breaths as Izuku tried to pull him up. Until finally he dramatically let out a fake final breath and let himself drown in the water. 

Izuku plunged into the water after Katsuki and to Aizawa’s amazement, the green boy’s hair was completely soaked and Midoriya didn’t even notice his head was underwater for seconds at a time. 

“Come on Kacchan, you’re heavy,” Izuku huffed as he raised the blonde above the water. Bakugou left his eyes closed a fake look of death on his face, he was very dramatic during their hero plays. 

“You okay Bakugou?” Aizawa asked loudly, knowing the boy was fine but he felt like he was better safe than sorry. The boy opened his eyes, hearing the man despite the lack of his hearing aids. The boy wasn’t completely deaf from his ears so he heard when Aizawa spoke loud enough to be heard around the whole house. 

Katsuki let out a huff reverting back to his grouchy self who knew no fun. The rest of the bath time was easy with Izuku’s hair damp the man easily washed his hair without a peep of complaints. It was the rinsing that left him feeling defeated because in order to do that he needed to dump water over the boy’s head. So instead he tried to make a deal. 

“Okay Izuku I need to rinse your hair,” Aizawa started but the boy was already distraught, “but as soon as we finish you get to have dinner!” 

That’s when the worst thing happened, without warning Bakugou lunged forward and forced Izuku under water. It seemed that the blonde had heard the bargain and decided to take matters into his own hands. 

“Bakugou!” Aizawa’s strict voice quickly made Katsuki flinch and let go of Midoryia. Fear in his eyes as Aizawa’s face held some anger. 

“No!” Izuku cried as he emerged from the water his face red as he started to scream at the betrayal of his friend. The boy coughed up some water and by the way he was huffing, he got some water up his nose too. Violently Izuku shook his head as he felt everything become too much for him. When that didn’t work he slapped the edge of the tub walls frantically as he stood up trying to launch himself off the ledge. 

Aizawa quickly grabbed him before the green boy could slip and hurt himself but that only resulted in more ear-piercing screams. Just as fast as he grabbed him Aizawa let go of the boy as he set him on the ground. The overwhelmed boy was now crying into the bath mat, smacking his fist on the ground at the unpleasant sensations. Aizawa draped a towel over the boy knowing that once again the boy was beyond consoling. 

“Bakugou that was very bad,” Aizawa said loudly but the blonde couldn’t hear him over Izuku’s yells. Katsuki slowly slipped his face under the water, leaving only his eyes glancing away from the scene he caused. Despite the attempt to hide his face, the bubbles were mostly dispersed by now so his pout was clearly visible to Aizawa. Bakugou knew that he was in the wrong. 

It took Izuku a while to calm down, his loud screams turning into sobs and then silent whimpers. During that time Aizawa unplugged the bath drain and watched Katsuki slowly emerge from the water. Aizawa dried Bakugou off and dressed him in some blue PJs with stars on them. 

“You okay darling? Let’s dry you off and get you some clothes,” Aizawa offered when the Izuku peeked his head out from the towel, he was hugging himself and shivering from the cold. 

Izuku let himself be dried when he realized the towel that was thrown on him was an All Might-themed towel. The boy was awed at the colors as Aizawa hung it on the rack next to Bakugou’s matching towel, he didn’t want to risk them fighting over them. Katsuki waited in the corner, putting his hearing aids back in as Izuku pouted at him. 

“Bakugou, say you’re sorry!” Aizawa said firmly as Izuku's eyes began to water at the sight of his betrayer. 

Katsuki also had a pout on his face, he knew his actions were bad but now Izuku disliked him. At that thought Bakugou’s eyes began to fill with tears as well so he looked away. 

“Kacchan,” Izuku whined as he realized Bakugou started to cry too. 

“Tch,” Bakugou clicked his tongue as he angrily wiped his tears away, he didn’t want to face Midoryia. 

“I,” Katsuki started his apology but it looked like he was talking to the wall. 

“I, I’mmm,” Katsuki stuttered and got stuck at the letter m. 

“Spell out the word inside your head,” Aizawa tried to help but then he mentally slapped himself because of course the boy couldn’t do that. Bakugou was only three, he didn’t know how to read or write. 

“Just slowly think of what you want to say before you say it,” Aizawa offered instead which Katsuki huffed at. 

“I’m,” Katsuki said clearly taking a second to breathe and calm down before the final word, “Sorry.” 

“I’m sorry,” Katsuki combined the words into one sentence before turning back to Izuku. 

“Kacchan!” Izuku whined as tears went down his cheeks, the boy still felt overwhelmed by the unpleasant experience. Despite Katsuki being the cause of his current misery, Izuku opened his arms for a hug. Bakugou let out a displeased huff but wrapped his hands around Midoryia. The deep pressure from Bakugou’s bear hug seemed to calm the boy down after a minute since he started to relax in the blonde’s arms. 

With that, bath time was over. 

Chapter Text

Meow

The boys were still in a hug as Lady interrupted their reunion with a loud meow. Bakugou quickly let go of Midoryia and turned to the cat who had blessed his ears with the high-pitched meow. 

"Lady!" Izuku exclaimed out loud, both the boys were excited that the cat had left her place on top of the bookshelf. 

The cat completely ignored the two boys who were shaking in excitement from her mere presence. Instead, she walked up to Aizawa, purring at his feet and letting out small meows. 

"Don't worry Lady, dinner will be served in a bit," Aizawa reassured the cat who stood up straight with the word dinner. The two boys behind her also lit up at the mention of dinner, their eyes shining for the promised third meal.

“We really get to eat again?” Izuku asked his mouth watering at the thought. 

“Are you hungry?” Aizawa asked and both the boys nodded furiously. 

“Then you will eat,” The man reassured them and they eagerly ran to the kitchen. The cat ran behind them, meowing back to Aizawa who walked too slowly for her liking. 

“Lady is hungry,” Bakugou said, finally a linking verb, Aizawa thought. 

“Want to feed her?” Aizawa asked the blonde who seemed determined to be the cat’s advocate. 

“Yes!” Bakugou answered immediately his fist raising to his chest as he tried to contain his excitement. 

“I want to help too!” Izuku piped up as he realized that Katsuki was given an errand. 

“You can grab her bowl from the carrier,” Aizawa offered Midoriya a task and pointed to the carrier at the entrance. Taishiro had left a couple of Lady’s things in the carrier as he dropped her off  

While Midoryia grabbed the cat bowl, Bakugou and Aizawa walked to the pantry where Lady was currently swiping her paws under the door. When Aizawa opened the door the cat started to purr louder as he grabbed a tin of cat food from the floor. 

“I got it!” Izuku said excitedly as he ran over with a white ceramic bowl. 

“Good job Midoryia,” Aizawa praised as he opened the tin and gave it to Bakugou. 

The blonde started to giggle as the sand-colored cat started to purr and rub against his legs. Letting out meows as Katsuki walked slowly to Izuku, it looked like he did that on purpose to prolong her attention on him. 

“Ew! It’s brown and yucky,” Izuku covered his nose as he saw the wet food come closer to him. It seemed he regretted the decision to help since he quickly sat the bowl in the corner of the room before running away to the safety of the dining room chair. Izuku held a disgusted face as he watched Katsuki complete his errand.

Bakugou tapped the tin on the bowl and that was enough for the food to plop out. The cat that was once attached to Bakugou’s leg like it was a priority was now chowing down on her dinner of wet food. 

“Great work Bakugou,” Aizawa commended the blonde as he threw away the tin in the trash can properly without direction. 

“Now for you two, do you guys like PB&J sandwiches?” Aizawa asked. 

“Yes please!” Izuku said quickly his hands tapping the table in excitement. Bakugou also nodded as he climbed the chair next to Midoryia. 

It wasn’t a proper dinner but after Katsuki’s incident after overeating Aizawa feared that maybe he was feeding them too much. They are pretty underweight and are obviously not used to eating meals multiple times a day. To combat a shock to their systems the man decided on a simple peanut butter jelly sandwich. A guaranteed favorite of children and is full of protein. 

First things first he served them sippy cups filled with milk to compliment their meal. Bakugou quickly started to reach for the cup as Aizawa sat it down in front of him. 

“Slow down kid, you’re going to get hiccups if you drink too fast,” Aizawa warned but he was mostly worried about Katsuki’s habit of gobbling down his food as fast as possible. 

Izuku grabbed his own cup and slowly took a sip, wary of Aizawa’s warning of hiccups. Katsuki also slowed down but still held the cup in his mouth, chewing on the spout of the sippy cup. As Aizawa toasted the bread the boys waited patiently in silence, Bakugou playing with the mats on the table while Izuku rocked back and forth in his chair, his feet swinging happily as well. 

“Does Lady eat every day?” Izuku asked as the cat finished up her dinner, licking her paws and wiping her face. Bakugou seemed shocked by the question like it was something he should’ve thought about first. They both looked up to Aizawa with expectant eyes, wanting an answer. 

“Yes,” Aizawa answered simply and the toaster went off behind him ending the small conversation. 

The boys watched as Aizawa made them their sandwiches their mouths watering in anticipation. Since it was a sandwich there was no need for a plate with dividers so he took out matching plates with All Might on it. 

“All Might!” Izuku called out excitedly as he saw his idol on his plate. 

Aizawa sat down the plates in front of the boys and to his surprise Bakugou didn’t grab the sandwich as fast as he normally approached his food. Instead, he grabbed it with careful hands and slowly moved it to his mouth. With the strange behavior, Aizawa watched the boy closer, ignoring Midoriya as he spouted out facts about his favorite hero. 

Crunch  

Bakugou’s first bite made him close his eyes as shivers went down his spine. There were goosebumps on the boy’s arms as he continued to chew slowly each crunch making him shudder. Aizawa watched confused until the boy started to tear up with a scrunched-up face. 

“What’s wrong Bakugou?” Aizawa asked but Bakugou shook his head no violently. 

“Texture?” Izuku questioned the blonde and Katsuki nodded before trying to take another bite. The boy was determined to eat the food provided despite the painful sensations. 

“You don’t have to eat it,” Aizawa reached to stop Bakugou’s hand but the boy jerked away from him. Katsuki quickly took another bite, making himself cringe at the texture on his teeth. 

“I’ll make you one not toasted, so please give me that one,” Aizawa said and offered his hand out, Katsuki looked hesitant but handed the man the sandwich after a couple of seconds of thinking. 

Aizawa quickly made Bakugou’s sandwich, the boy looking more anxious as time went by without food. Izuku waited for Aizawa to hand his friend the sandwich before he continued to eat his own, showing some sympathy for Katsuki. 

“Better?” Aizawa asked as Bakugou took a bite of the sandwich, no more goosebumps. Katsuki nodded as he ate, crisis averted and now Aizawa had his own snack.

“Thank you,” Bakugou said softly in between a bite. The sentiment of gratitude was new from the blonde so Aizawa couldn’t help but smile at the polite expression. 

“Good manners,” Aizawa praised the boy’s effort but just received a huff in return. 

“Thank you!” Izuku mimicked after Bakugou, taking a sip of his milk after each bite. 

“You’re welcome,” Aizawa said as he took a bite of Bakugou’s abandoned sandwich. They ate together without any further problems. 

When Katsuki finished his sandwich and milk, Midoryia still had a couple of bites left of his. Bakugou looked up at Aizawa, his eyes saying that he wanted more. Aizawa knew this but the thought of overeating was still on his mind. A full sandwich was more than enough for a kid his size and weight so Bakugou wasn’t hungry, he just wanted to eat more while he was allowed to eat. 

“Breakfast will come before you know it,” Aizawa tried to let the boy down easy but Bakugou still pouted unsatisfied. 

“Sleepy,” Midoriya yawned after he finished his last bite. 

Chapter Text

It was the second night that the boys were going to spend at Aizawa's house. The man had made certain that there were no exits unlocked, even latching the top chain of the front door. Aizawa wasn't sure which of the two boys instigated the first escape but he was sure that the boys wouldn't be able to get out now. 

Even so, Aizawa couldn't help but toss and turn throughout the night. Over the past couple of years, these two were the only ones to cause a major problem, he fostered only one girl before but he also had multiple temporary fosters, equally difficult to deal with but not to the extent of going missing. 

Then of course there was the case with his husband. Hizashi is a reasonable man, cheer and all that but the man was still human. Aizawa felt a hole in the pit of his stomach because his husband could be really angry or worse really sad. Sure the tour had started today and maybe he's on stage right now but he was still expecting a call from Aizawa. The fact that Hizashi didn't send any text after the call abruptly ended,  plagued the man's mind. 

Aizawa spent hours tossing and turning in his bed trying to desperately sleep, to have energy for tomorrow, but he felt wide awake. When he finally felt his mind drifting peacefully away to a nice peaceful rest there was a sudden scream in the next room. 

The sound was ear-piercing even from a room away and it made Aizawa's blood turn to ice in an instant. The man was out of his room and in theirs before he even realized he was on his feet.  

Flipping the switch on, Aizawa saw that it was Bakugou who was screaming, sitting up with eyes closed, tears streaming down his face, and straining his mouth as he opened it wide to scream out. The boy’s screaming was one of deep fear. 

“Bakugou what’s wrong?” Aizawa asked his eyes flickering to Midoryia who was squeezing Bakugou in a hug with all his might. Izuku was also crying but his eyes held more worry for his friend than fear. 

Bakugou’s body shuddered as the boy's breath hitched fiercely for air. Another scream erupted from Katsuki’s mouth but this time it was interrupted by his own sharp cough. The blonde’s eyes shot open and immediately started darting around the room landing on Aizawa. The boy’s breath hitched again as he let out another scream, louder than before, his face turning red. 

Aizawa’s heart sank at the thought that maybe he was scaring Bakugou even more just by being in the same room. Aizawa’s mind raced as he tried to think of a way to comfort him, as a stranger Bakugou wouldn’t want comfort from the man. Instead, he needed something familiar to ground himself and make him realize he was okay. Thankfully Aizawa’s thought process resulted in one possible solution.  

The man left the room and just as quickly returned, his hand holding something that would hopefully help. Izuku was still holding on to Bakugou as he screamed and the green-haired boy looked like he was on the edge of a meltdown himself. 

“Here you go,” Aizawa said loudly, making sure Katsuki could hear him. The man waved the All Might plush in front of Bakugou’s sight and the boy’s eyes flickered with recognition. 

Izuku’s arms loosened around Katsuki, just for a second as the blonde reached out for the plush. Bakugou’s hands wrapped around the plush as he held it against his chest like he was trying to push it right through his heart.  Katsuki’s breath kept shuddering as he tried to breathe between cries. A loud cry would escape his lips every now and then but the worst of it was over. 

“You okay sweetheart?” Aizawa asked after a couple minutes went by, Bakugou’s breathing had slowed down and he wasn’t screaming anymore. Still, tears kept rolling down his cheek and into Izuku’s shirt as the green boy held tightly onto Katsuki. 

The blonde let out a whimper at the question, his eyes meeting Aizawa’s with a look that screamed desperately for help. The man was kneeling on the floor next to the bed mentally wishing that he could transfer some of Bakugou’s fear into himself, so he could carry at least some of the burden. 

“N n nou, no no no No NO?” Katsuki tried to talk but got stuck repeating the word no, his breathing beginning to hitch again. To Aizawa’s understanding the blonde was trying to ask a question.

“No one here Kacchan,” Izuku spoke up as he felt Katsuki’s panicked breathing restarting. Aizawa didn’t correct him, in whatever context those words meant it was true for them. No one was here. 

The room went silent again as Bakugou calmed down, Izuku’s hands loosened with time, his hands aching from applying pressure for a long while. 

“Katsuki,” Aizawa spoke up again, the blonde looked up to the man, his eyes still holding some fear. Aizawa felt like he could throw up from the worry in his stomach but kept a soft neutral face, a front to not scare Bakugou. The man held up Bakugou’s hearing aids and with silent permission put them on for him. With Bakugou’s attention on him, now fully lucid, Aizawa wanted to tell the boy a comforting truth. 

“Katsuki, you are safe.” 

Bakugou eyes watered again as he let the words wash over him. Relief. The boy let out a deep breath as he collected himself, repeating the man’s words in his head over and over again. You are safe. 

“You are safe here,” Aizawa said again, then he looked at Midoryia who was holding in tears of his own mostly from being overwhelmed, “You two are safe.” 

“Safe,” Bakugou repeated the word out loud as if to satisfy his mind. 

They sat in silence for a while as Bakugou took his time to process the emotion of relief that came from the man’s words. Once he was calm he gave Izuku a soft shove, signaling that he didn’t want to be held anymore. 

“You okay now Kacchan?” Izuku asked as he let go of the blonde, his eyes begging Katsuki for the truth. Bakugou only nodded to answer, slowly uncurling his arms from his chest to reveal the All Might plush. Bakugou looked up at Aizawa, his eyes showing mostly shame but also new fear. 

“What is it sweetheart?” Aizawa questioned softly, hoping to seem less threatening to the small kid in front of him. 

Bakugou lifted the sheets off himself to reveal a wet spot on his pajama pants. Thankfully it was mostly contained on himself rather than the bed around him. Izuku scrunched up his nose in understandable disgust but didn’t seem surprised by the sight. Bakugou huffed at Midoryia’s face but the blonde looked like he was mostly angry at himself. A blush appeared on the blonde’s face as he began to get embarrassed. 

“It’s okay, I’m not mad. Let’s go get cleaned and changed.” 

Chapter Text

Aizawa had a peaceful night's sleep once he put the boys to bed again. Bakugou was quick to wash up and Midoryia was already asleep by the time they got out of the bathroom. It was actually an inconvenience to manually move him off the bed to put on some fresh clean sheets as he lay on the naked mattress. Aizawa was glad for the plastic cover under the regular sheets he bought for the child before. The kids he had fostered before were frequent bedwetters but it was a common trend among the type of children he fostered. 

The rest of the night was peaceful, all three of them slept and there wasn't a hint of sound till well past eight in the morning. Unbeknownst to Aizawa, Izuku had been up since seven and was currently in the living room. The man did a double take as he made his way to the kitchen, rubbing his eyes before returning to Izuku sitting on the couch. The boy was rocking back and forth with the television on at an extremely low volume. 

“Izuku? How long have you been awake?” Aizawa asked the green-haired boy who was too busy counting along with the TV program he was watching. It was Leon’s Number World, the same show the kid was watching yesterday morning. 

“Don’t know, just a bit,” Izuku mumbled, not sparing a glance away from the TV. 

“Is Bakugou asleep?” Aizawa asked but it was more of a rhetorical question since he went to check up on the blonde anyway. 

When he entered the boys' room Katsuki Bakugou was still in his bed, pillows positioned where he liked and purple sheets balled up to his chest. It was obvious Izuku had slipped away from the blonde and left the sheets as his replacement. Bakugou had his face in the pillow sheet, covering most of his face but Aizawa could still see his eyes. They were still swollen from the crying earlier that night and maybe some silent crying throughout the night. 

A question ran through the man’s mind, a question that he needed an answer to, and depending on the answer he might need to make some calls. The question ate at his gut the more he stared at Bakugou so instead of waiting for the blonde to wake up he decided to get an answer from Midoryia, the second-best informant. 

“Midoryia darling, can you look at me for a second I need to ask you a question,” Aizawa said as he sat next to the boy, Izuku had a glazed look over his eyes as the TV flashed through them. 

“Please,” Aizawa tried one more time and the boy whined, but after a second looked Aizawa in the eye. It was immediately clear that Midoryia hated it, he stiffly straightened himself out and his hands were making circles on his knees. 

“Does Bakugou scream at night often?” Aizawa asked and the boy immediately shook his head, no, mostly to break the eye contact. 

“Kacchan only does that sometimes, but it’s scary because Kacchan never does that before,” Izuku was back to staring at the television but his answer made Aizawa even more confused. 

“This is new?” Aizawa asked, maybe the boy meant that he didn’t use to have night terrors before something triggered them. 

“Yeah, ever since Auntie and Uncle left, he used to cry all the time, at night more, he got scared of the dark but dark is not scary, right? Nothings in the dark, monsters are fake that’s what mom told me. Mom said that when it’s dark nothing is there, that when it’s dark don’t scare,” Izuku seemed to get lost in his own train of thought but eventually dropped his sentence as a new counting sequence appeared on the cartoon. 

“How about when he peed the bed, did he do that before Auntie and Uncle left?” Aizawa asked one last question, Izuku refused to look him in the eye but continued to answer. 

“No that’s new too, Auntie taught us to not pee in the bed a long time ago, we don’t need diapers no more!” Izuku got defensive, but in reality, Aizawa was thinking that for now, Bakugou should at least wear a pull-up to bed. However this might embarrass him since Izuku didn’t need one, and this could be damaging to his mental stability. 

“DEKU!” Bakugou’s shout startled Izuku and Aizawa as they were snapped out of their quiet conversation. 

“Eep! Kacchan!” Izuku jumped up on the couch as he looked warily towards Katsuki. The blonde had a scowl on his face and his hands were by his side with an angry fist. 

“Left!” Bakugou shouted as he pointed an accusatory finger at Midoryia. The tiny blonde then jumped onto the couch to face the green boy, face to face. 

“No, I didn’t I was right here! Leon was on so I needed to leave the room to watch it! You were still sleeping Kacchan!” Izuku’s feet wobbled on the couch as he took steps back toward Aizawa. Bakugou had an angry look in his eye and his hands were up in fists. 

“W-wake me up! Can n n n not b-be by self,” Katsuki’s words were broken but still held an authoritative tone. It was clear that he wasn’t actually that mad but rather wanted to make sure Izuku wouldn’t make the same mistake. 

“But you were sleeping so nice!” Izuku whimpered as Katsuki pushed the boy to his butt, luckily it was a calculated fall to the couch cushion.  

“Come on now, don’t fight.” 

Aizawa let the scene play out in front of him but made sure it didn’t result in a fight that would end up with tears. Izuku whimpered as Katsuki stared angrily at him, bare teeth and all. Izuku knew limited social cues but had Bakugou’s permanently engraved in his brain. 

“Bakugou, Apologize,” Aizawa stated, enforcing a strict but unthreatening tone.  Katsuki however just huffed at the man as if to say ‘This is between me and him, not you’. 

“I just wanted you to sleep nice,” Midoryia said softly with a teary look in his eye. 

“W-Wake me up, when you up,” Bakugou told the boy and sat down next to Midoryia, holding onto Izuku’s shirt with his tiny fist. 

“Okay, sorry I left you by yourself Kacchan,” Izuku apologized and Aizawa sighed at the injustice Katsuki managed to win. Before Aizawa could intervene and make Bakugou apologize for his behavior towards Midoryia, some tears were silently falling from his eyes. 

“You okay, Katsuki?” Aizawa asked but the boy just clicked his tongue annoyed and rubbed the tears away, his fist clenching tighter on Izuku’s shirt. 

The young boys continued to watch the show in silence. Bakugou was mostly pouting and mentally calming himself down from the unpleasant morning and Midoryia was doing his best to stay still for Katsuki. It was clear by the way Izuku’s hands trembled that he wanted to move around to release excess energy from the sudden adrenaline but his priority was to keep Katsuki happy. And right now Katsuki needed to hold onto Izuku’s shirt for comfort, to make sure his best friend was right next to him. 

For how dense Aizawa thought Midoryia was, he was beginning to think that it was the opposite. That the boy actually had a lot of sense at least when it came to Bakugou. The boy subconsciously knew that moving too much near Bakugou would overstimulate him and cause the blonde to snap at him. Izuku was considerate in this regard but Aizawa knew that if Midoryia suppressed his stims for too long then he would have a meltdown himself if a trigger came along. The best the little guy could do was tap his fingers and count along with his favorite show, that would have to be enough for now. 

Meow

With the sound of Lady’s meow, Bakugou was instantly brought back from his distraught state. Instead, now his eyes were wide as he remembered that there was in fact a cat in this house. The fists that were once holding onto Izuku’s shirt so tightly are now up against Bakugou’s chest and vibrating violently. 

“Lady!” Katsuki was happy to see the cat and basically fell off the couch trying to get close to her. The cat purred around Aizawa’s feet as the man got up from the couch and to the kitchen pantry. 

“K, c-can I feeed L-Lady?” Bakugou asked, his speech getting worse the more impatiently excited he got. 

“Yeah! Of course,” Aizawa said in a cheery voice. The man was happy that the introduction of the cat had helped Bakugou talk to him more, even if it was just in regard to said cat.

Aizawa opened the can for Bakugou and handed it to the boy who hurriedly went to pour it in her bowl. When the cat started to eat the boy let out an excited squeal and intensely stared the cat down. It was clear the boy was starting to fall in love with Lady and it was even more clear that he loved to feed the ones he cared about. 

Speaking of food, Aizawa decided to start on breakfast. With Izuku occupied with his show and Katsuki entertained with Lady, it was a perfect time to cook without worrying too much about their whereabouts. 

Chapter Text

While Aizawa was cooking Bakugou insisted on watching the man make the food rather than sitting next to Midoryia to watch cartoons. It was actually a little unnerving as the blonde stared intensely and rarely blinked. The boy was also very silent, not really stemming from his difficulty with speech but rather he didn’t want or know how to speak to Aizawa. It didn’t last long since Aizawa was quick to make breakfast seeing that Izuku was up early and probably hungry. 

“Come on over Midoryia, food is ready!” Aizawa called the boy over to the table as he set down the plates of pancakes and fresh strawberries, and a small bowl of oatmeal as a side dish. 

Izuku got up and moved to the table but mentally he was still on the couch. The boy kept humming the background tune of the show and continued counting when he heard a sequence start on the program. Midoryia was successfully watching the cartoon without actually eyeing the television. It was an impressive skill to Aizawa and he wondered if Izuku always watched this show religiously every day. 

“Pancakes!? I have not eat pancakes in a long time! My mom used to make pancakes!” Izuku excitedly drummed on the table with his palms before taking a fork and shoving some food in his mouth. His eyes became wide as the sweetness of syrup melted on his tongue a toothy grin spreading across his face as he closed his eyes for a second, reminiscing of the last time he had had pancakes. 

“Yummy?” Katsuki asked eyeing the food on his plate, he was unsure of the food in front of him. 

“Yeah it’s yummy, try some kid,” Aizawa said as Bakugou sniffed a small piece of pancake on his plastic spoon. Bakugou placed the small piece in his mouth and chewed slowly before his eyes lit up. 

“Sweet!” Katsuki said happily before grabbing a bigger piece and quickly swallowing it whole. 

Bakugou began to scarf his food down his throat, finishing the pancake in less than a minute before grabbing the strawberries with his hand. Aizawa cringed as Katsuki almost choked and instead coughed out a piece of strawberry before chewing it again. 

“Slow down sweetheart, the food is not going anywhere,” Aizawa tried to reassure the blonde but the kid continued to eat at an unsafe pace. Afraid for the young boy’s life Aizawa grabbed his plate and pulled it away, just for a second. This action however was deeply regretted by the man. The instant the food was pulled away Katsuki looked up to Aizawa with a mix of shock and sadness. 

“I’m not taking it away, just eat more slowly, please. Remember yesterday when you threw up? You ate too much too fast, let’s not waste food okay?” Aizawa explained the situation slowly to Bakugou, making sure the blonde understood what he was saying. Katsuki nodded and stared at the plate, silently pleading for the food with a pout. 

“Say you understand,” Aizawa pushed Bakugou one more time, hoping to engrave the lesson into his young mind. 

“I understand,” Bakugou stated his voice calm and clear. Aizawa pushed the plate back towards the blonde but had a pant of guilt about his instinctual action. He hoped that pulling the plate away didn’t do more harm than good in the young boy’s mind. 

Katsuki ate more slowly as instructed but had a bit of shame on his face, looking away from Aizawa. Izuku didn’t seem to care about the scene that transpired in front of him, rather he was too busy eating while also counting along with his show, tapping the table with his free hand. 

Thankfully the man had a backup plan to make sure Katsuki would eat slowly and bring back his smile. It had to do with the raw oatmeal on the side of his plate. 

“You guys know what the round things in your oatmeal are?” Aizawa asked the boys and they both peered into their bowls. 

“Eggs?” They both questioned in unison and Aizawa nodded with a smile. 

“Dinosaur eggs!” Aizawa said with a cheerful tone, hoping to raise their spirits. 

“Dinosugar eggs?! That’s so cool!” Izuku got excited and moved the oatmeal around with his fingers, picking out the eggs so they would be on top of the oatmeal like a nest. 

“Watch them hatch as I pour hot water on it, careful it’s hot, really hot!” Aizawa grabbed the kettle that already held boiling water and warned the boys of the temperature. First, he poured it into Bakugou’s bowl then Midoryia’s. They both pulled away from the hot kettle but immediately snapped back afterward, their noses practically in their bowls. 

“It’s hatching! Look Kacchan dinosaurs is hatching!” Izuku stomped his right foot repeatedly on the footrest while Katsuki tapped the table excitedly. 

“Dinosaur!” Bakugou spoke up with a smile as he pointed to a red brontosaurus emerging from the melted egg. 

“So cool mister Aizawa! Right Kacchan? Isn’t it cool?” Izuku spoke the man’s name which brought light to said man’s heart, dinosaur oatmeal was a huge win. 

“Cool!” Bakugou agreed and mixed the oatmeal around with a spoon, helping the other eggs hatch faster. 

“Alright it’s still hot so eat the rest of your food okay?” Aizawa asked and both the boys nodded in acknowledgment before going back to eating. 

Izuku seemed to have lost track of his show so he quickly looked back to the TV for a brief moment before turning back. The green boy continued to count along with the show, when the show took a break from counting to do other things he returned to counting his chews. No matter what it seemed that Izuku needed to continue his counting. 

As Aizawa ate his own share Bakugou had moved on from the strawberries and onto the cooled-down oatmeal. The kid didn’t seem to mind the texture of the oatmeal and Aizawa figured that maybe crunchy was the only texture Katsuki hated. That or maybe his teeth hurt, granted that he didn’t brush the kids' teeth yesterday, so he doesn’t know the state of their dental health. 

Aizawa usually waited a day or two for the kids to get comfortable with him before asking them to brush their teeth or shower them. Unfortunately yesterday they got dirty a lot so he did shower them quite a few times already. But dental hygiene was tricky, kids who experience neglect usually have bad teeth. Bad teeth usually mean pain while brushing which was not a great way to introduce himself, he would rather wait to make a connection and gain some trust. 

Even with Bakugou eating slower, he still finished his food before Izuku. Izuku had barely finished his pancake and moved on to the strawberries, leaving the oatmeal for last. 

“Can I have more?” Bakugou spoke up with a clear sentence, it made Aizawa’s heart happy that the blonde was calm enough to do so. Aizawa gave the boy a smile but it was only met with an inpatient whine. 

“You must be full, that was a big meal. Just a bit more okay?” Aizawa had read that denying food from a child with food anxiety was a major trigger. Instead of denying Katsuki he only offered a small bit more since he had a problem overeating. His sentence was carefully worded, questioning the boy’s physical state so Bakugou could ask himself if he was full. It’s common for him to not recognize the feeling of being full and to continue to eat beyond that. 

“Okay,” Bakugou agreed and Aizawa put another couple of strawberries on his plate. 

Izuku was also eating, he was still eating slowly but he wasn’t counting his chews but rather the dinosaurs in his bowl. Aizawa didn’t know why the boy had chosen numbers to comfort himself but at least the man knew the kid would be great at math one day. 

Katsuki finished his strawberries and looked back to Aizawa, his eyes once again pleading for more. The man quickly averted his eyes, not outright denying Bakugou food but making Katsuki decide between asking for more or just stopping eating. 

“Just one bit more?” Katsuki asked and Aizawa sighed, the kid was persistent. 

“You are not feeling bloated? If you eat too much you will throw up again,” Aizawa asked the boy with another word of caution. The blonde huffed at the question but then put his hand on his stomach. Taking a moment to try to understand the silent ques his stomach was telling him. 

“Just tiny bit more?” The blonde came to the conclusion that he was well-fed but not full. Aizawa could see the gears turning in Katsuki’s head, and was happy at the huge milestone, that the boy tried to understand his body.

Progress

“Tiny bit,” Aizawa agreed and put a small amount of his own oatmeal into Katsuki’s plate. 

“How about you darling? Want more?” Aizawa asked Midoryia who was just about to finish his oatmeal. 

“No thanks!” Izuku said as he pushed away his plate and grabbed the sippy cup of milk on the side. 

“Eat more!” Bakugou slammed his fist on the table and glared at Midoryia with the harsh demand. 

“Don’t want any Kacchan, I’m full,” Izuku told the blonde but Katsuki only pushed his half-eaten strawberry toward the green one’s mouth. 

“No eww!” Izuku moved his mouth away as the half-chewed strawberry went towards him. 

“Don’t do that Bakugou he’s full, when Izuku is hungry I’ll feed him again. I promise.” Aizawa said to the blonde but the blonde only huffed. 

“Deku is,” Bakugou paused to look for a word before saying it slowly, “stupid.” 

“That’s not nice Kacchan!” Izuku scolded Katsuki himself and pouted. 

“Yeah don’t say mean things,” Aizawa scolded, thinking that maybe he should change the nickname he had for the blonde. Sometimes Bakugou was less than sweet. 

“Body stupid.” Katsuki doubled down and pointed to Izuku’s stomach. Midoryia however had enough and started to tear up. 

“I’m not stupid,” Izuku defended himself and resorted to pulling his hair for comfort. A stim that Aizawa hadn’t seen for a while now. 

“No. Body stupid, not head,” Katsuki tried his sentence again and Aizawa thought about what he was saying. 

“His body?” Aizawa questioned and Bakugou nodded. 

“Deku forgets to eat!” Katsuki began to open up about Izuku’s eating habits. 

Aizawa got what Katsuki was trying to tell him and all signs of it being true. Izuku’s body was stupid in the sense that the boy didn’t get hunger signals until his stomach was eating itself. Aizawa hadn’t seen it first hand but Izuku would’ve probably waited forever without complaint waiting for food. It was common for people on the spectrum to not have reliable signals from their bodies to tell them when they were hungry or other sensations. Actually, Aizawa has seen an example of this with Izuku. The first morning Midoryia was here the kid didn’t recognize he needed to pee until it was almost too late. 

“I get it, but don’t worry about Izuku sweetheart. I’m taking care of you two now and I’ll make sure you both eat enough,” Aizawa stared directly into Katsuki’s eyes and tried to reassure the blonde that he didn’t need to watch over Izuku so adamantly. That Bakugou didn’t need to be a caregiver, Aizawa was here to take over. Bakugou was still indifferent, sitting in his chair and trying to process the man’s words. 

“I’m not stupid!” Izuku was crying now and Aizawa realized that it looked like he was agreeing with Bakugou’s original statement of bullying Midoryia. 

“No, you’re not dumb Izuku. You are such a smart boy, you even know numbers. A very smart boy who can count!” Aizawa praised and comforted the boy who slowly stopped pulling his hair and began to smile. 

“Yeah, I can count!” Izuku gleamed as he began to count his fingers to show off to the man. Bakugou clicked his tongue annoyed again, feeling left behind academically even though he was older than Midoriya. 

Chapter Text

It was later in the day, around noon. Music was playing in the background as Aizawa cleaned up around the house. The boys were playing on the rug in the living room. Bakugou was arranging his mega blocks on the floor by color in a long straight line. Midoryia on the other hand was playing with one of the plastic horses, jumping over Bakugou's wall as hurdles. 

There was music playing in the background as they played, each of them doing their own thing. As Aizawa sat down on the couch for a quick break from his chores he noticed a change in Bakugou's demeanor. The boy wasn't facing the man's direction, usually Bakugou sat facing Aizawa, at the very least keeping the man in his peripheral vision. Aizawa hoped that this meant the boy trusted him a bit more but kept his hopes down, it was more likely Bakugou had let his guard down with the distraction of toys. 

"No more," Bakugou spoke up as he finished arranging his line of mega blocks, no more left in the bag. 

"Want to play with horses?" Izuku asked the blonde as he turned to him. 

Bakugou nodded but only a couple minutes of play passed by when there was a knock on the door. Aizawa got up to open the door and the two boys stayed silent with questioning gazes. 

When Aizawa opened the door he was greeted with a smile from the delivery lady. To his surprise, it was the same delivery lady from yesterday, the one who delivered his groceries. 

"Nice to see you again Mr. Aizawa, I got your order!" The girl kept a smile on her face as she handed the man the shopping bags from her hands. 

"Not stalking me are you?" Aizawa questioned the young woman, half joking. 

"No sir! I tend to accept a lot of deliveries in this area! I promise this is just a coincidence," The girl answered in a panicked voice, taking his question seriously. 

"It makes sense," Aizawa agreed with her excuse to make her more comfortable, she sighed in relief. 

The girl's eyes went past the man's head and to the two boys staring her way. It was obvious they recognized her from the other day with the recognition clearly in their eyes. 

"Hello!" She greeted them with a small wave and a friendly smile. 

Midoryia stiffened at the direct eye contact and looked away with a blush, not knowing what to do. Katsuki just nodded at the girl, a matching blush to match Izuku's. The blonde still had yesterday's interaction in his mind, the interaction where he rudely slammed the door in the woman's face.

“Don’t be rude, say hello,” Aizawa moved aside so the woman could have a better look at the boys. Izuku shuffled over behind Katsuki, hiding from the woman. With shaky hands, Midoriya gave her a wave of his hand instead of the proper greeting. Bakugou on the other hand decided to pretend that the lady didn’t exist and completely ignored her. Instead, the blonde picked up a plastic horse and began to chew on the horse's hooves. 

“I’m sorry, they are a bit shy,” Aizawa apologized on the boys' behalf and the woman just let out a small laugh in agreement. 

“It’s okay! I hope they enjoy their new toys!” The woman spoke loudly as she mentioned toys hoping for a reaction from the two. 

“Thanks for your hard work,” Aizawa said giving her his best tired smile. He thought about using the brave-like All Might trick again but decided that those words were best used in an important setting, that if he kept saying it the words would lose their power. 

“You’re welcome,” The lady gave one last wave to the boys before turning around and leaving back to her car. 

Aizawa grabbed the bags and hurried to open them on the table. With the woman gone, the boys had returned to their calm state, looking curiously at Aizawa. The man opened the bag to see the goodies he ordered yesterday, sensory toys for the boys. 

“Is it toys?,” Izuku asked as he got up to see what the man had brought. 

“Yeah! I think you will like these!” Aizawa said as he took out some of the items.

“It for me?” Izuku questioned, eyeing the bags with excitement. The boy was standing on his tippy toes, rocking back and forth as he tried to sneak a peek inside the bags. 

“For you and Bakugou,” Aizawa assured him and pulled out the first toy. 

It was a simple pop-it, the shape was a hexagon and each line was a different color making a rainbow. Aizawa tore off the plastic and handed it to Izuku. The pop it looked huge in Izuku’s hands, covering most of his torso as he held on to it. Izuku’s green eyes darted around the object, unsure of its purpose. 

“Like this,” Aizawa grabbed the pop it and set it on the table, demonstrating how to play with it. Midoryia watched as the man pushed down on one of the circles, making a dent. 

Midoryia was unsure of the toy at first but once his tiny finger pressed down on the circle next to the one Aizawa already popped his eyes lit up. The boy started to pop the bubble-like plastic, counting every one of them as he went down row by row. The boy liked that he had a visual while counting, being able to look back on how many he had popped and how many he had left. When the boy finished, he let out a pout, his fun ended too soon. 

“You can flip it!” Aizawa said and turned the pop it around to reveal a fresh unpopped slate. Izuku’s eyes lit up as he realized he could continue his play. 

Bakugou looked up at his friend who was enjoying the new toy. The blonde let out a huff of jealousy and looked into Aizawa’s eyes, waiting for his turn. There was a chewing motion coming from Bakugou’s mouth and this worried the man, the boy could choke if he put something small in his mouth. 

“Bakugou what did I say about putting stuff in your mouth?” Aizawa asked but the blonde simply shook his head no. 

“Come.” 

The blonde hesitated but stood up and walked over to the man. Aizawa was surprised Bakugou had listened to his command at all, he was prepared to go over to the boy instead and see what was in his mouth. 

“Open your mouth please,” Aizawa ordered Bakugou softly and the boy looked up at him, huffing in annoyance. It took a second but Bakugou opened his mouth, to Aizawa’s surprise he found nothing. Aizawa took out his phone and used the flashlight feature for a better look, the boy was definitely chewing on something. 

The light illuminated the boy's mouth and Aizawa was relieved by the sight of his teeth. It wasn’t as bad as past experiences but it was clear by the plaque on Bakugou’s teeth that he needed a dentist appointment for proper teeth cleaning. It didn’t look like he had any really bad cavities but his gums were pale and his tongue was too. 

Aizawa winced as he looked at the inside of Bakugou’s cheeks. There was some scar tissue on the sides, where Bakugou's teeth were meeting. The boy was chewing the inside of his cheeks and had been doing so for a long time. There were some irritated marks along the side, not bleeding but still red and swollen. 

“Let’s try not to chew our cheeks again okay?” Aizawa asked and Bakugou glared at the man, it was clear he didn’t want to follow that recommendation. 

“I got something for you Bakugou, so please try it,” Aizawa said as rummaged through the bag for the item. 

The man pulled out what he was looking for, a chew necklace he had bought with Bakugou in mind. It was a rubbery material in the shape of a crystal, the color was orange and it had a hole on top with string to have it as a necklace. 

“Can I put it on you?” Aizawa asked and the blonde slowly nodded, unsure of the object. The man put the string around Bakugou’s neck, tying the string to the appropriate length and cutting off the extra. The orange crystal fell down onto Bakugou’s chest as the man let go of the object. 

“Go on try it,” Aizawa urged the boy on but Bakugou was still unsure. 

“Chew?” Bakugou questioned and softly grasped the orange crystal. 

“Yes.” 

Bakugou lifted the crystal to his mouth and Aizawa could see the rubbery material compress in the boy's teeth. An instant smile spread across the boy's face as he began to chew on the gem. Katsuki began to unapologetically chew on the necklace with most of his jaws might. It was clear he was happy to have an item he was allowed to chew on without needing to hide or be afraid of scolding. 

“There are a couple of different ones, some are soft while others are harder, tell me which ones you like,” Aizawa said as he pulled out multiple chews, some in different shapes, like stars, gems, and even ovals. 

Bakugou began to try every single one of them, chewing some longer than others. Putting aside the ones he didn’t like, the really soft ones weren’t any good to him and the really firm ones hurt his teeth. Instead, he picked out a nice in-between texture and brought those closer to him. Luckily the one already tied around his neck was his favorite, he kept chewing on that one as he pushed aside the chews he disliked and lined up the ones he did. 

“You like it?” Aizawa asked Katsuki, wanting to make sure the kid liked the gift.  

Bakugou looked up to Aizawa, his new chew crystal in the side of his mouth. The boy's eyes were wide and the lights shined brightly in them as he stared directly into Aizawa’s eyes. The boy gave a couple of firm nods, and Bakugou felt seen. 

“There’s more stuff for you two,” Aizawa announced and decided to pour out the toys on the coffee table rather than taking them out one by one. 

Midoryia looked up from his current obsession, the pop it was fun and he had begun to pop in new patterns but he was also excited about the new toys. Bakugou was already rummaging around in the new toys and had found a book. 

This book wasn’t like any normal kid's book, this book had an octopus on the cover and the tentacles were made of plastic. Bakugou rubbed his hand on the cover, the texture of the hard plastic sending shivers down his spine. The boy turned the page, each page held a different animal with a different texture pattern, some were ridged while others were soft or smooth. 

As Aizawa unboxed and opened the toys, Midoriya found interest in a rainbow slug. The boy grabbed the slug and felt the texture in his hands. He started to shake the thing around which created soft clicking sounds at every turn. This caught the attention of Bakugou, the trance the book had placed him in was broken as the slug’s sounds blessed his ear. 

“You want it Kacchan?” Izuku asked and handed the blonde the slug, it was clear that the green boy didn’t find as much interest in it. 

Bakugou began to shake the slug closer to his hearing aids to better capture the sound. Aizawa made sure to make a note of this, he wanted to search on the web if there were sensory toys for sounds. 

Aizawa handed Midoryia a gel-filled squishy ball, the color was red and held some sparkly glitter inside. The boy squeezed the ball and was instantly in love with the thing. He started to squeeze the ball rapidly in one of his hands. 

Aizawa had bought most of these for them to not only stop their self-harming stims, like Midoryia’s hair pulling and Bakugou’s dangerous chewing but to also have them as a way for them to calm themselves down when upset. 

“This is so fun! I don’t want it to pop, it will be messy. I never saw this before, the toys you got are nice. Right Kacchan?” Izuku began to mumble under his breath as he played with the squishy. 

“Fun,” Bakugou stated in agreement as he played with the slug in his hands. 

“I’m happy that you like it,” Aizawa told them with a smile, these toys were a major win. 

“Thank you Sir!” Midoryia said loudly towards the man, Aizawa didn’t know where the kid had learned to call him sir but it wasn’t unwelcome. It was a shame that Izuku still could not look Aizawa in the eyes but it was something the man had accepted as difficult for the young boy. 

Bakugou clicked his tongue annoyed that Midoriya had shown his gratitude first. Feeling like he had to say thank you too, Katsuki slowly made his way closer to the man. 

“What is it sweetheart?” Aizawa questioned softly as the boy looked up at him. 

Bakugou put his chew back into his mouth and looked up at Aizawa. The eye contact wasn’t new from the blonde but he started to stare a little longer than usual. The silence grew awkward as Aizawa tried to figure out what the boy wanted. 

“Thank you,” Bakugou said the words slowly as he continued to chew on the necklace. 

“You’re welcome.” 

Aizawa felt happy with the effort Bakugou was showing him. Unconsciously the man put his hand on Bakugou’s head and ruffled the blonde’s hair. The instant Bakugou flinched Aizawa realized his mistake and quickly pulled away. Bakugou stomped angrily away and chewed harder on his necklace, the physical affection was received poorly. 

Aizawa let the boys play with the toys, helping them open the boxes and snipping away zip ties. They spent a lot of time sorting through their favorites and sorting out the ones they didn’t like. Either way, this was a fun activity in their mind and it made an excuse to involve Aizawa in their playtime. 

Chapter Text

Hours went by as Aizawa watched the boys sort through their new toys. It was clear by the way they arranged and swapped that they were sorting which of the toys were the best for their needs. Bakugou had the monopoly on the chews and Midoryia hoarded most of the pop it’s for himself. Aizawa actually had to intervene so Bakugou could have the chance to play with one. Not because Midoryia was selfish but he was unconsciously keeping the pop it’s closer to himself. 

They were having so much fun sorting and testing out the new stuff that Aizawa had to remind them twice that lunch was ready. It wasn’t usual for Midoryia not to rush to the table but when Bakugou didn’t budge from laying his face on the textured books it was unexpected. That didn’t last long though, as soon as the smell of cooked chicken reached the living room, Bakugou was off the living room floor and sitting in his seat. 

Lunch went off without incident. Their plate today held the main dish of fried chicken breast, seasoned with lemon pepper. The sides were rice and steamed broccoli along with the leftover macaroni from yesterday. Aizawa thought that he would get some protest about the broccoli on the plate but they ate it without complaint. This was good because, by the color of Bakugou’s gums observed earlier, he looked like he needed more iron in his diet. At one point Bakugou moved a piece of broccoli on his fork and moved it next to Midoryia’s hair. 

“Broccoli head,” Bakugou said, a cat-like smile on his face as he made fun of the kid next to him. The sudden comment made Aizawa laugh but he quickly stifled it by covering his mouth. 

“Huh?” Izuku questioned the sudden attention on him, tapping his foot on the footrest anxiously. 

“Your hair is the same color,” Aizawa told the boy and Midoryia looked at the broccoli on his plate then pulled his green curls to try to see it. 

“It is!” Izuku concluded and giggled in delight at the new discovery. Aizawa was glad that the boy didn’t get offended and instead got excited about the coincidence. 

“More?” Bakugou asked after Midoryia’s excitement calmed down.

“How does your stomach feel?” Aizawa asked the blonde who put his hand on his stomach before answering. 

“Can fit bit more,” Bakugou decided and looked up at Aizawa with pleading eyes. 

“Last bit,” Aizawa agreed to give him more and just like he said, he put down a couple more ounces of rice and broccoli. 

Bakugou finished the extra food on his plate and drank the rest of the water from his sippy cup. It was clear that he was full by the way he let out a satisfied sigh, but Aizawa could see the thoughts turning over in Bakugou’s head. Bakugou looked up at Aizawa, seeing that the man had more food on his plate. 

“You’re full right?” Aizawa asked the boy and the blonde nodded, still, there was a stressed look on the boy's face. 

“Do you know the next time we are going to eat?” Aizawa questioned the boy once again, he had read that asking this question could help Bakugou not feel anxious about his next meal. 

“Dinner time like we had yesterday, after it was dark outside,” Izuku said to Katsuki, the green boy not quite finished with his own plate. 

“Dinner time?” Bakugou answered with uncertainty. 

“Yes at dinner time you get to have another plate of food,” Aizawa reassured the boy and brought confidence to his answer. The way Bakugou relaxed back into his chair told Aizawa that whatever fear he had about his next meal was at least temporarily disbanded. 

“Can we play outside now? It was super fun playing outside before and I want to go again,” Izuku had finished his plate and was tapping his feet rapidly. It was clear that the food had given him a burst of energy. 

Aizawa paused to think about his answer. The man didn’t want to say no to Izuku’s request but it was early afternoon, meaning it was the hottest part of the day. They would need to be changed into lighter clothing than what they have now. While he’s out he might as well check on how Taishiro is doing on his first day of fostering. The walk was a couple of houses down and across the street so it wouldn’t be too new to the boys compared to walking to a park. 

“Yeah! Let’s just change you two into outside clothes!” Aizawa agreed with Izuku and the boy tapped the table in excitement. 

Midoryia bounced off his chair and started to jump across the room, excited to have some outside time. Bakugou had his monotoned face on but Aizawa could tell the boy was also happy by the way he took some hurried steps to their room. In Bakugou’s mind going to the room to get changed sooner will result in them being outside sooner. 

Midoryia followed behind Bakugou and Aizawa followed behind them both. Aizawa quickly changed their outfits from casual wear to outside clothes. Bakugou was changed first into a blue shirt with a shark on it with khaki shorts. Midoryia walked around the room on his tip toes impatiently as he waited his turn. Aizawa had chosen a dark green shirt with a dinosaur on it and some darker brown shorts to match.

Once dressed Izuku was sprinting to the front door, putting on his red shoes with some level of difficulty. Katsuki seeing his struggling companion helped the green boy by unstrapping his shoes to fit and strapping them again. Midoryia thanked the blonde and watched amazed as Bakugou slipped on his dark brown shoes with ease. 

When Aizawa finished putting on his own shoes, Izuku was practically hanging off the door handle. Bakugou tried to open the door properly but the door only opened a crack. The man chuckled amused by their efforts but he had made sure to always have the top chain equipped at all times. 

Once Aizawa unlocked the chain the door swung wide up and the boys ran outside. Bakugou headed straight for the pebbles and Midoryia began his trace of the lawn’s perimeter

“Hold on guys, I need to go visit my friend first okay?” Aizawa said as he held up a grocery bag of goodies for Taishiro. Knowing that the man loved to eat, Aizawa had packed some of his leftover lunch for his neighbor in a nice bento box. 

Bakugou nodded and began to follow Aizawa down the driveway but Midoryia seemed stuck on the top side of the lawn’s perimeter. 

“Come on,” Aizawa urged the boy over but Midoryia seemed upset, he looked across the lawn but didn’t dare to step on the grass. 

It took a second but Midoryia decided to ignore the shortcut through the middle of the grass and continue his planned path of following the lawn's edge. Aizawa didn’t mind the extra half minute of Izuku going the long way but once the green boy made it to him the boy still seemed upset. 

“What’s wrong?” Aizawa asked and the boy whined and pointed to the front of the house. 

“Just go!” Bakugou barked out, his patience growing thinner the more he waited on Midoryia. 

Still unsure Izuku looked up at Aizawa, it was rare eye contact but the boy was at least trying to read the man’s facial expression. 

“Go!” Bakugou blurted out and this time he pushed Midoryia on to continue his path. 

Aizawa watched confused as Midoryia walked back to the front of the house, not to the door but instead to the spot where he started counting his steps. The man understood now, Midoryia wanted to finish counting the steps around the lawn. Cutting through the grass or stopping once he reached Aizawa at the bottom of the driveway would’ve left the sequence in Midoryia’s mind incomplete. And if it was incomplete, the boy would’ve dreaded not finishing the sequence and kept it in the back of his mind. 

Izuku returned back to Aizawa with hurried steps, the worried expression gone from his face and this time replaced with a satisfied smile. Bakugou despite not liking touch, reached out his hand to Midoryia for safety as they walked down the sidewalk. Midoryia began to hum as he tried to step on every crack on the sidewalk, pulling Bakugou behind when he went back to step on one he missed. Katsuki seemed annoyed by this, because of the way his scowl grew every time Izuku pulled back on him but he bared with it. 

“We are going to cross the road now,” Aizawa paused for a second as the boys caught up. 

Aizawa reached out his hand to Bakugou, it was a test to see if the boy would grab onto his hand. Bakugou looked at Aizawa’s hand and then at the man’s face with squinted eyes. 

“You need to hold an adult's hand when crossing a street,” Aizawa warned him but Bakugou just huffed, the street wasn’t that big but it was still important to teach them proper road safety. 

“I got it Kacchan,” Izuku saw the struggle Bakugou was facing and let go of the boy's right hand, and moved over to grab his left, parting Aizawa’s access from the blonde. Izuku held up his left hand for Aizawa to grab instead, that way they could all be holding hands but Bakugou didn’t have to hold Aizawa’s. 

Aizawa wouldn’t admit it out loud but the rejection from Bakugou did hurt him a bit. However Izuku’s kindness and eagerness to accept Aizawa’s hand was a win so it softened the blow to the man’s ego. 

“Before you cross you should always-“ Aizawa began to teach the kids the rules but before he could finish his sentence Midoryia started to sing. 

“Look both ways before you cross the street! Hold their hands and look both ways, if you see a car you always wait!” Midoryia sang the tune as Aizawa led them safely across the street. 

Chapter Text

Once they crossed the street it was a straight shot to Taishiro's house. Izuku let go of Aizawa's hand as soon as they reached the sidewalk but still held on to Katsuki's hand, taking advantage of the only situation Bakugou found acceptable for him to do so. It was clear to Aizawa that Bakugou didn't tolerate physical contact from strangers and only minimal contact with those he deemed trustworthy. Midoryia on the other hand might be more open to the idea of positive physical contact, like a pat on the head or maybe even a hug. This however was limited to Bakugou and the blonde didn't like to engage in those comforts, rather he saw it as a nuisance so he let go of Izuku's hand when they reached the front door. 

"I'm only going to chat with Taishiro for a second, then we can go back home okay?" Aizawa explained the situation to the boys. It was not that he was in a rush to go home but he didn't want to stress them out by making them interact with an unfamiliar kid while being in an unfamiliar house. 

Taishiro's house was easy to recognize since it was the only house on the block with a front fence. The fence wasn't tall in fact it only reached Aizawa's waist. Despite being a fence it was actually inviting looking, the size not being tall enough to keep out intruders and the tops were rounded not spiked. Even the color was friendly enough, the white didn't exactly scream go away, inviting even. 

Aizawa knocked on the door and a rustling was heard as Taishiro rushed to the door. The man looked skinner than the first time the boys met him, more muscular and less round. The only reason the boys could recognize him was because of the yellow sweater he always wore, the same sweater he wore when they were caught red-handed in the corner store yesterday. 

"Aizawa! Nice to see ya buddy! Came to check on me? How are the kids?" Tashiro opened the door with a smile on his face, kneeling down to Bakugou and Midoriya's level. 

The sudden attention and eye contact made Izuku jump back in surprise and look away from the man immediately. The green boy grabbed Bakugou's hand for comfort but the blonde quickly shook it off so instead Midoryia grabbed the end of Bakugou's shirt. 

"Bakugou and Midoryia right?" Tashiro waited for a response but only got an annoyed huff from Katsuki, the blonde stared, glaring at the man with unblinking eyes. In Bakugou's mind, he had to maintain eye contact, or else he seemed weak and afraid, and he was not. The blonde was still uncomfortable with meeting the stranger because he grabbed the chew necklace from his chest and put it in his mouth, biting down hard. 

"You boys aren't going to respond?" Aizawa asked and Midoryia shook his head viciously no. Aizawa didn't push them to formally introduce themselves, he understood that this action was very uncomfortable for them. It would be something they would learn later in life to properly interact with others. 

"That's okay, my names Taishiro. I'm Aizawa's friend," Taishiro introduced himself and waited a couple of seconds to see if they would follow his example, but it proved unfruitful. Still, Taishiro held his patient smile until it was obvious they weren't going to respond. 

"Sorry they don't like strangers," Aizawa apologized on the kid’s behalf but Taishiro immediately shook his head no. 

"Don't apologize, it's fine.”

"Can we play in the yard nizawa?" Midoryia asked. 

"It's Aizawa. And yes you can, don't leave the yard okay?" The man told him and Midoryia nodded in response, starting his trace of the lawn's perimeter. 

"Bakugou?" Aizawa questioned as the boy stood next to him without budging. The boy kept his intense stare at Taishiro even though he was free to leave as well. 

"Look over there, there's some pebbles! Go ahead and play too," Aizawa directed Katsuki's gaze to the pebbles around the corner of the porch. 

Katsuki broke eye contact and glimpsed towards the pebbles. It was obvious that the pebbles were meant to surround bushes like Aizawa's house except it appeared that Taishiro wasn't much of a green thumb. There were only shriveled twigs spaced evenly along the pebbles, the leftovers of a massacre of bushes. 

To Bakugou it just meant he didn't have to sit on the edge to avoid branch bristles. With that said the blonde forgot about the nonexistent staring contest and went straight for the rocks. Midoryia already made his way around the lawn by this time and took his place next to Bakugou.

Aizawa continued to chat with Taishiro about the foster kids they are fostering. Aizawa keeping his statements short but insightful about Bakugou and Midoryia's special care. Taishiro asked for advice about the boy he's fostering, a special case with medical treatments and abuse allegations. 

The young boys a couple of feet away didn't care about any of that though. Instead, Bakugou had his head close to the ground, his ear practically touching the pebbles. Midoryia was above him counting the tiny rocks in his hands before letting them go to go crashing next to Bakugou's head. The ricochet of the pebbles would sometimes hit Katsuki on his face but the boy didn't mind at all, it didn't cause pain and it was a small price to pay for the enjoyment of hearing the clicking of bouncing pebbles. 

The boys continued to play like this for a couple of seconds before getting bored and deciding to line up the pebbles. Just like they have done before in patterns of numbers and colors. Aizawa turned his head to the sudden stop of dropping pebbles but relaxed again as he saw them playing. 

Unfortunately for Taishiro, Bakugou had caught a whiff of cinnamon in the wind. The blonde turned his nose in the air at the scent of apple cinnamon, his eyes darting around before landing on a pie resting at the edge of an opened windowsill. 

"Shhh," Bakugou made a soft shushing noise catching Midoryia's attention and earning him a sideways glance. 

"What is it Kacchan?" Izuku whispered, getting closer to Katsuki so the blonde could hear him. 

"Pie!" Bakugou said the words in an excited whisper as he pointed at the open window. 

"Yummy!" Midoryia said out loud and Bakugou cringed at the sudden exclamation. The blonde turned around to see Aizawa but the man didn't get a hint of their sudden excitement. 

"Shush!" Bakugou said once he saw their cover wasn't blown. Midoryia put his hands over his mouth and softly apologized. 

Luckily for the boys, Aizawa didn't see the need to keep a close eye on them. The white fence that surrounded them made sure they couldn't run off and Aizawa had an ear out for them, meaning they couldn't open the gate without alerting him. 

The boys walked up to the window but there was a quite amount of height to their attended target. To their luck, there was a brick nearby. Bakugou lifted it up and huffed at the weight, Midoryia jumping in to help as he noticed Katsuki's trouble. With that one brick, they got an extra four inches of height but there was still an amount to go. They looked around for other bricks but found none. They sat there and pondered for a second, Bakugou placing his chew necklace back in his mouth as he thought while Midoryia rocked on his heels. 

"What if you lift me?" Midoriya asked and Bakugou looked at him for a second, thinking it over. 

Ultimately the blonde saw no other option but to go ahead with the green one's plan. Bakugou crouched down and tapped his shoulders, signaling Midoryia to wrap his legs around his neck. Izuku looked nervous but continued with his own plan. Katsuki shakily got up, the weight of Izuku almost too much for him but the boy bared with it. 

"Step up," Bakugou ordered quietly but Midoryia was too scared to unwrap his arms around his friend's head. 

Bakugou clicked his tongue annoyed and gave Midoryia's calf a sharp bite for encouragement. Midoryia winced in pain but received the message to his displeasure. With the fear of another bite, Midoryia began to stand on Bakugou's shoulders, using the wall as support for his balance. 

It was difficult at first but eventually Midoryia was standing shakily on Bakugou's shoulders, most of his body weight leaning on the wall. The pie was in plain view, this however was the least interesting thing Midoryia saw. Because just behind the pie and across the room he saw a kid sitting at a dining table. The kid Midoryia saw was a boy with half-white and half-red hair, split right down the middle. There was a bandage on the boy's left eye but his right was a soft grey that eyed Midoryia curiously. 

Midoryia froze for a second, the nerves of being caught doing something bad making him stiffen up like a deer seeing headlights. However, the fear dispersed when the boy across the room gave him a friendly wave. 

A boisterous laugh from Taishiro frightened Izuku causing his knees to shake and lose balance. The stumbling caused Bakugou to lose his balance as well, sending them both flying backward into the soft grass behind them. Bakugou clicked his tongue annoyed as he saw Midoryia empty-handed. 

"There's a boy in there! Little like me and Kacchan!" Midoryia explained in quiet whispers, his green eyes shining in excitement. Bakugou's eyes widened slightly with a new interest in the stranger kid Midoryia was talking about. 

"My turn," Bakugou pointed to the wall so Izuku could take a turn being the support.

With Bakugou up on Izuku's shoulder, he easily balanced himself and made it to the window without a problem. The blonde's crimson eyes met a soft grey across the room, Bakugou tilted his head, seeing the condition of the strange kid. The kid across from him mimicked Bakugou's head tilt but held a neutral face, unfazed by the mischief unfolding right in front of him. 

"Half n Half," Bakugou mumbled under his breath as he saw the way the other boy's hair was bicolored. Bakugou continued to stare at the boy who was just sitting at the table with a plate of food in front of him. 

Once the boy saw that Bakugou was going to continue staring, he offered the blonde a friendly wave like he did with Midoryia. This time Bakugou copied the boy's example and gave him a wave back. That was the end of their interaction because the smell of the cooling apple pie made it impossible for the Bakugou to ignore it. 

That being said the pie was just out of reach of Bakugou's grasp. Since he was just peaking over his hands only reached a couple inches off the edge. He needed another couple of inches to even touch the pie. 

"Kacchan hurry," Izuku said as his knees began to wobble, the weight of another kid on top of him was too much even with the leaning on the wall. 

Bakugou stepped on his tippy toes, keeping an incredible balance on Midoryia's shoulders. Still, he was a couple of centimeters too short to reach the sweet and savory treat. That's when the stranger kid across Bakugou hopped off his chair and disappeared to the depths of below Bakugou's visibility. Katsuki watched as the chair moved towards the counter and the kid popped up closer to him. 

Bakugou began to sneer, thinking the kid was going to take the pie away but that's not what happened. Instead, the boy pushed the pie tray closer to Bakugou until it was in his grasp. 

"Thanks," Bakugou mumbled and the boy just gave a firm nod. 

Bakugou picked up the pie but the weight of its contents was unexpected. As soon as the pie was off the counter Midoryia's knee gave out from exhaustion so he fell to his knees, causing Bakugou to fall backward on his butt. Luckily the pie was unscathed and they were perfectly fine as well. 

"Good job Kacchan!" Midoryia praised as he turned to find Bakugou with the pie. 

Bakugou turned towards Aizawa who was a good distance away. The man was too busy talking to Taishiro to really pay attention the what the boys doing. In fact, the man had a pained expression on his face as he continued to talk with Taishiro who listened with understanding. That didn't concern Bakugou, mostly because he was too young to understand the complex emotions of adulthood but also because there was a full pie in front of him. All he really wanted to know was if they were home free to devour the sweet treat currently resting on his lap. 

With the coast clear Bakugou took the initiative and grabbed a fistful of pie, not caring about how messy or how disrespectful to the pie it was. With a mouthful of apple cinnamon pie, Bakugou clenched his fist and smiled as the sweet flavor invaded his taste buds. 

"It's Yummy!" Bakugou said and grabbed another fistful, this time offering it to Midoryia. This act of messiness displeased the green-haired boy, rather Izuku found it unsettling how Bakugou could just eat with the stickiness on his hands. 

"I don't want to be sticky," Midoryia began to pout with watery eyes. The feeling of despair comes from the effort he put into obtaining the sweet treat, only to not be able to eat a piece. 

Bakugou ate the piece in his hand but stopped immediately after that. His brain was trying to figure out a way for Midoryia to eat. The boy looked up to the window again thinking that maybe he could reach a fork or spoon from the sink. However, he didn't need to think once he saw the face of the stranger kid looking down at him. 

"Half n Half!" Bakugou pointed at the kid at the window, who just stared down at them. 

"It's the kid! Hi!" Midoryia waved at the boy peering down. 

"Hi," The kid said back, his voice keeping a neutral tone, "You guys want spoons?" 

"Yes please!" Midoryia whisper yelled and the boy disappeared for a second before coming back with a handful of spoons and forks, probably thinking that they might prefer one over the other. 

The kid reached down and Midoryia reached up for the utensils. This however didn't pan out well, with their heights, "half n half" being taller than them both, they still had a foot of space between themselves. Midoryia began to tippy toe and the strange kid pushed himself more outward. 

This action however resulted in the kid accidentally pushing himself off the ledge and crashing into the grass next to Midoryia. The boy got up and shook off the grass blades off his head, he fell with his arm outstretched in front of him, so he didn't land on the sharp silver utensils. 

"Are you okay?" Midoryia asked, concern on his face as he jumped up and down with flapping arms. 

"Yeah, I'm fine," The boy answered, unnervingly unfazed by the sudden tumble. 

"I'm Izuku, and he's my best friend Kacchan. Who are you? How’d you get that owie on your eye? Does it hurt?" Midoryia introduced himself but Bakugou huffed when he didn't get to introduce himself. 

"I'm Shoto." The strange kid introduced himself, ignoring all the other questions Midoryia asked. Izuku didn't mind though, he just figured that he was the same as Katsuki, not a big talker. 

"Shoto!" Midoryia mimicked his name and gave the boy a friendly smile. 

"Share?" Bakugou spoke, a peaceful offer of the stolen pie as a thank you for helping him reach it. 

"Yeah let's share!" Midoryia said, grasping one of the spoons from Shoto's hand. 

"Okay." Shoto agreed, not sounding very enthusiastic about the pie. 

The boy handed Bakugou a utensil too and even though his hand was covered in pie filling, Bakugou grasped the fork anyway. 

All three of the boys sat there in the grass, sharing the pie with each other in peace. Midoryia is on the opposite side of Bakugou and Shoto sitting in between them. 

"It's a shitty situation Shouta, but my two cents is that you should call him back and soon." Taishiro's voice turned serious for just a second before being cheery again, "But for now, how about a piece of pie to lighten the mood? Freshly baked this morning and nicely cooled!" 

The boys all froze at the mention of the pie, unfortunately for the grownups, said pie was currently unsalvageable. The boys had been digging in with no rhyme or reason, just scooping and munching. 

"My pie is gone, and so is Shoto!" Taishiro's panicked voice could be heard clearly since the boys were directly out the window. 

"What!? He couldn't have gone far!" Aizawa began to panic too as he heard that the kid was missing. The man turned to check up on his own foster kids and found an extra set of panicked eyes staring at him. 

Aizawa looked at the scene before him and couldn't help but let out a laugh. The kids' faces were covered in apple pie and the way their eyes were wide made it clear that they knew what they were doing was wrong. 

"Why are you laughing? This is serious, I can't lose my first kid!" Taishiro was heard rushing around and opening doors. 

"All missing things are accounted for," Aizawa said simply and Taishiro rushed out the door and let out one of his boisterous laughs again. 

"I don't know how you ended up like that but it's clear you made new friends, Good job Shoto!" Taishiro praised his kid and the boy gave a firm nod, his wide eyes softening as he realized he wasn't getting punished. 

"That makes it official, these two are the most mischievous kids I have ever fostered. I'm sorry they roped in Shoto as well," Aizawa apologized on behalf of the boys but Taishiro shook it off. 

"Hey. They're having fun, it was just a pie. I'm just glad my kid is having fun too." 

"He is?"

"Yeah, it may not look like it but this is the happiest he's been while being here. I can just see it in his eyes." Ignoring Taishiro's poor choice of words, it was actually true. 

Although Todoroki wasn't smiling, he didn't have the glazed-over look on his face of being stuck in a bad train of thought. Rather he was too busy looking at the two other kids that showed up and going along with their shenanigans. 

"Guess I have to go now, I need to clean them up," Aizawa sighed at the messy boys in front of him. Although Midoryia was fairly clean, Bakugou didn't really mind cleanliness by the way he let pie drop down to his shirt. Since they were wearing shorts, some of the pie made its way to his legs, making him sticky and sweet, a pristine way to get ant bites. 

"Come along again! We enjoyed the company, right Todo?" Taishiro helped his kid off his feet and Todoroki nodded. The man in the yellow sweater picked up the remains of the pie, Bakugou looking dejected about parting with his stolen snack.

Chapter Text

The walk home was brief and only slightly eventful. Midoriya had made a complaint about holding Bakugou's sticky pie hands and Aizawa solved the problem by washing Bakugou's hands with the hose in front of Taishiro's house. After that, there was an uneasy silence on their way home and Aizawa couldn't figure out why it was unnerving. Midoryia was more still than usual and was muttering under his breath again. Bakugou had his chew in his mouth, biting with force instead of chewing.

"You boys okay?" Aizawa asked as he unlocked the front door to the house. The boys didn't answer as they entered the home, Aizawa closing the door behind them and locking the chain at the top.

When Aizawa turned around Izuku had his hand over his head and was cowering behind a guilty-looking Bakugou. The crimson eyes that usually held a type of contempt were now filled with guilt.

"What's wrong?" Aizawa asked and bent down to their level, Bakugou shuffled a step back and Midoryia did the same, still keeping his head covered. The green boy couldn't look at the man, keeping his eyes on the ground as he began to cry in anticipation of a punishment.

Bakugou's eyes began to tear up but he remained silent, his voice lost to the guilt lumping in his throat. The blonde looked down at Aizawa's shoes and arched his head towards the man in a bow-like position. They did the thing again, quiet hands they called it, all the way back home and are now waiting for a slap at the back of their heads.

"I'm not going to hit you," Aizawa said the words quickly as he realized what was in their minds. Bakugou thought he was going to receive a slap on the head. What was more, was that he wasn't covering his head like Midoryia, the blonde knew he had done something wrong and felt like he deserved it.

"You are not?" Izuku asked, his voice shaky, lowering his arms from his head and peering out from behind Katsuki.

"No, remember I said I would not hurt you two?" Aizawa reminded them of the promise again.

"N-not innn trooble?" Bakugou asked in a broken sentence, at some point, the boy began to shake from the strain of stopping himself from crying.

"No, you two are in trouble...," Aizawa was going to say more but Midoryia tightly shut his eyes, the boy began to shake and cover his head again. Bakugou who was barely keeping himself from crying couldn't stop it anymore and tears began to flow down his cheeks as he anticipated his physical punishment.

"You two are in trouble but it's okay, no one is going to get hurt," Aizawa explained in a calm voice again and reached over to pat Bakugou's head for comfort.

The man once again instinctively wanted to comfort the boys with a soft touch and before his brain could remind him that they didn't respond well, it was too late. Bakugou fearfully jerked back away from Aizawa's hand and bumped into Midoryia who couldn't see with his eyes closed.

"Please stop," Midoryia said one last plea before breaking out in sobs, holding his mouth with one hand to try to silence himself, the other hand still at his head for protection but simultaneously grasping and pulling on his hair.

"Midoryia don't pull your hair babe," Aizawa said softly and unconsciously reached out to stop him. At that moment Midoryia opened his eyes and flinched at Aizawa's sudden movement. Immediately the man pulled back his hand, mentally cursing himself for the same mistake he made moments ago.

"I'M SORRY," Midoryia yelled out one last time before his breathing got more rugged between sobs. The boy threw himself on his knees and put his hands over his head, this time grasping full fists of hair as he rocked back in forth pulling them tightly. To Aizawa, it looked like a tornado drill position with the way the boy's knees were at the stomach.

The blonde was shaking now, curled fists at his sides as he looked at Aizawa with wide eyes, his breaths sounding sharper and more frequent as he chewed his crystal chew harder. With Izuku losing it so close behind him, he cringed at the loud noise that made his ears hurt.

"I'm not going to hit you, I promise. Don't be scared, I'm not going to hurt you. Nothing bad is going to happen."

Aizawa began to panic as he realized that the boys were beginning to meltdown from the stress of their fears. They were expecting something violent to happen, to be punished for their bad behavior. They were confused about the line between punishment and being in trouble.

"Okay okay! You're not in trouble, look I'm just going to sit down here. Nothing is going to happen okay? We are just going to sit."

Aizawa sat down with his legs crossed and his back to the door. The man hopes that making himself smaller will make him look less threatening. That maybe standing over them was making them feel small and helpless.

At this the boys seemed to calm down, Midoryia taking a peek to see Aizawa patiently sitting on the floor. The boys relaxed a bit as they processed Aizawa's tamed behavior, the man even politely looking away from Izuku's eyes to not trigger him further.

After a few minutes, Midoryia stopped crying but was still rocking in his tornado drill position on the floor. His loud sobs from moments ago are now just whimpers and whines as he tried to dial down the intense emotions within himself.

Bakugou took a different approach to calm himself down when he saw that Aizawa wasn't going to hurt them. The blonde sat next to Midoryia, pulling his knees to his chest wrapping his arms around his knees, and hiding his face in them. Midoryia would let out soft cries now and then between his whimpers but even though these were quieter than his earlier sobs, Bakugou became very annoyed at the sounds his friend was making. For a second he unwrapped his arms to take off his hearing aids, staring at Aizawa for a couple of seconds before deeming the man safe enough to let his guard down.

With this confirmation, he wrapped his arms around his knees again and smothered his face in them. Effectively all that together created a dark and quiet place for Bakugou to take control of his own emotions.

After ten minutes passed by, Midoryia was still in his rocking position and Bakugou in his own desensitized position. Aizawa on the other hand could feel his feet falling asleep with the way he was sitting. He debated not moving and dealing with the pins and needles feeling later but he could also feel a cramp coming on and if he made a sudden movement from the pain it could send the kids spiraling again. So he took the chance and uncrossed his legs and straightened himself up on the wall, still sitting on the floor.

Midoryia looked up at the sound of movement, his eyes were puffy from crying but it looked like the tears had stopped flowing. Aizawa quickly looked away so he wouldn't startle the boy. Midoryia went back to rocking back and forth, ignoring the man's sudden move of position.

Shouta sat down doing nothing for a long time, and thought about the strong reaction the boys had right now. Their first morning together they had done an even worse thing. Breaking out of the house and going all the way to the corner store to steal some food. Midoryia acted pretty much the same, apologizing and having a meltdown. But Bakugou's reaction was extremely different from day one.

That first day he didn't have as a strong reaction as today. Aizawa was sure that Bakugou was not even close to crying that day but right now he was. The only explanation Aizawa could come up with is that today Bakugou cared about what the man thought of him. The blonde now sees Aizawa as a caregiver and maybe even a role model and the thought of being hurt by the only person who's been nice to him is even more scary than being punished by the stranger he once was.

After taking the time to think about the current situation, Aizawa also tried to calm himself down. Not only from the seething anger he got whenever the kids regressed back to their fearful behavior taught by their past caregiver but also from the stressful past couple of days.

It was hard taking care of kids. Kids are loud and get dirty. They make messes that constantly leave a caregiver cleaning up after them. They throw things and make loud sounds with their items and sometimes break stuff. They need a lot of attention and can't leave his eyesight for more than a couple of minutes before causing trouble. They take up all his personal time because even if they nap there are still chores to do, like their laundry and every household chore he can't do while they're awake. There were probably more reasons why Aizawa deemed this job hard but his blood pressure was rising just with the above excuses.

Then why? Why was he taking care of kids that weren't his? Why is he putting himself through all this? Because kids are innocent. Because kids are the purest form of humankind before they come of age and discover that the world is an unfair and immoral place. And these kids he cares for have lost so much of that innocence. Aizawa doesn't want them to be afraid, they are too young to be filled with this fear that will eventually turn to spite. These kids need another chance to feel safe again.

Aizawa does this because he finds it more important and rewarding than hero work. This is hero work to him. There are so many people out there who are becoming heroes to save people, literal schools built for it. And while yes they are in the literal sense saving kids. Aizawa felt like he was saving these kids in a slightly different but important way. Saving the essence of their souls and making sure they get their humanity back. Giving them their chance to become what they desire. Instead of being filled with hate and fearful of the world, Aizawa wants to return the light to their eyes and inspire them to become what their heart desires. Wants to get rid of the fears they have so they can relax and figure themself out as a human rather than by their trauma.

The sudden cold wet touch on Aizawa's hand followed by the tickle of whiskers made him snap out of his thoughts. It was Lady, the cat had come out of hiding to check up on her owner.

"I'm okay," Aizawa whispered as he petted the cat's sand-colored fur. Lady purred and started to knead on Aizawa's thighs, to his dismay Aizawa was reminded that he needed to trim her nails.

The cat continued to knead and purr on her owner before suddenly walking off and slowly making her way to Bakugou. The cat sniffed the remaining pie scraps on the boy's calf, which were left there when Katsuki was messily eating the pie.

Bakugou raised his head up to see what was tickling his leg and to his delight found the feline he was ruthlessly following before, which was the cause of her hiding. The cat began to lick the pie filing off his calf and Bakugou's leg jerked at the sensation of the cat's rough tongue.

The light in Bakugou's eyes returned as he giggled at the cat curiously licking at the leftover sweets on his leg. The boy slowly unwrapped one hand from his legs and formed an arch with his palm. Lady saw her cue and rubbed her cheek on Bakugou's hand, giving him permission to pet her.

"Lady," Bakugou said softly and began to pet her from head to toe. A smile formed on his lips as he felt the rumble of her loud purrs, causing him to stop for a second to put his hearing aids back on before returning to pet her again. Aizawa looked on amazed at how fast Bakugou's mood changed with the animal, but if he was fair, Lady was an emotional support animal. Although she never really emotionally supported anyone but him before, like the moment just before Bakugou.

Midoryia was peering up from the floor, curious about Bakugou's soft giggle earlier. Once he saw that Lady was out from hiding, the green-haired boy slowly sat up to look on as Bakugou pet her. Midoryia arched his palm the same way Bakugou did but the cat was too busy receiving chin scratches from the blonde. The boy didn't fret over the rejection, in the past few days he got used to Lady running away from them.

"Are you kids okay now?" Aizawa asked softly and Midoryia let out a whine.

"Trouble?" Bakugou asked one more time if they were in trouble which Aizawa now realized means that they expect punishment.

"No, you're not in trouble."

"I'm sorry I ate the pie," Midoryia apologized for the mess they were in earlier.

"You're not going to be hit okay? But you need to understand that you guys did a bad thing," Aizawa didn't want them to get away with mischief home free because they still need to learn right from wrong.

However, he decided to stop it at that because Midoryia began to tear up again. It wasn't like before though. Midoryia wasn't crying because he was afraid, he was crying because he had done something bad and in his mind doing something bad means you are a bad person.

"I'm sorry," Midoryia's tears made a reappearance down his cheeks but before the boy could break down again Aizawa tried to calm him down verbally.

"I know you're sorry and I forgive you. Don't feel sad anymore okay? You're a good boy, I know because you feel bad about stealing the pie. Only good boys feel bad. You're very good, I know you won't steal anymore," Aizawa reassured Izuku that he was forgiven and the boy nodded at his words, wiping his own tears with his hands.

"Bakugou? Are you sorry? I know that you're the one who had the idea to steal it in the first place. My little thief." Aizawa recalled back when Bakugou had stolen some Twinkies from the corner store just days ago.

"Sorry," Bakugou apologized a pout forming on his lips as he looked at the floor with guilt. Aizawa found comfort in the way the boy wasn't stuttering his words anymore, the blonde was not afraid.

"I don't want you boys to steal anymore okay? Taishiro is a good man, he would have shared the pie if you asked him nicely. Do you think All Might would have stolen the pie?" Aizawa asked, Midoryia and Bakugou shook their heads violently at the fake accusation of their favorite hero.

"Heroes don't steal" Midoryia piped up and Aizawa nodded to agree with his statement.

Aizawa stood up from the uncomfortable seat on the floor and the boys looked up to him. A question was brewing in Bakugou's mind, and Aizawa could tell by the way his eyebrows furrowed and his intense stare.

"What is it?" Aizawa asked.

"Food?" Bakugou asked cautiously, relocating his eye contact to Lady as he began to pet her faster. At the change of pace, the cat let out an annoyed meow and walked away.

"Do we get to eat today even though we did something bad?" Midoryia asked and Aizawa let out a sad sigh.

"Yes, you will eat today and tomorrow and all the days after that. You will always eat every day because young heroes need to eat to get big and strong," Aizawa said the answer cheerfully but in reality he was battling a rage behind his eyes.

The boys seemed relieved at confirmation of their next meal and were even calm enough to chase after the cat again. Granted they weren't running her off as much as just following very close behind her with their palms up in an arch. Lady however had enough of the attention and quickly walked off to hide under the couch to get some peace away from the boys.

"How about we have a quick shower, eat some dinner, then go to bed?" Aizawa asked the boys and they both nodded, Bakugou's mouth watering at the thought of dinner.

Aizawa had decided against a bath for today and found that showers were more keen to Midoryia's needs. The man also didn't want a repeat of what happened with their last bath, he would slowly introduce baths again to help with Midoryia's fear of being submerged but that was too much for now. Maybe in a couple of weeks..... Aizawa stopped his walk to the bathroom as he realized that he was planning ahead more than he was supposed to. The man made a mental note to write down the boys' specific needs and what plans he thought would be good for them based on his findings these past days. Whoever Aizawa hands these notes to he really hopes their new caregiver cares enough to read them.  

"Ahh fuck," Aizawa mumbled under his breath as his heart dropped, he was so busy caring for the boys he had forgotten that he had a whole life to return to by the end of the week. This wasn't a regular case, he had forgotten to engrave that in his mind. 

The man looked at the boys peering under the couch, excited squeals escaping their mouths as Lady playfully swiped their hands from under the couch. These past days have felt so long yet also so short as the week keeps progressing.

Chapter Text

"Izuku darling, can you go set up the bed? I need to talk to Katsuki for a second," Aizawa gave Midoryia a chore so he could get Bakugou alone to have an important conversation.

"By myself?" Midoryia asked, both boys tilting their heads at the weird request.

"Yes please," Aizawa answered but the green-haired boy rocked on his heels as he pondered the request. The small smile Izuku usually had was now a straight line as he tried to piece together a way to ask a question.

"Is Kacchan in trouble?" Midoryia asked a little bit of fear showing in his eyes as he gripped the ends of his shirt. At the mention of the word, Bakugou's eyes widened at the implication of doing something wrong that warranted punishment.

"No, Bakugou is not in trouble. Everything is okay. Just go set up the bed the way Katsuki likes and we will meet you in a couple of minutes," Aizawa reassured them both that no one was in trouble and Midoryia's fear dissipated in his eyes.

"Okay!" Midoryia smiled before happily walking away, however before he could go through the door of their bedroom Katsuki grabbed his arm.

"Kacchan?" Izuku questioned his friend's behavior but Bakugou's eyes were on Aizawa.

By the force Katsuki was using to grasp Izuku's arm, the boy was refusing to be alone. There was shakiness in Bakugou's grasp and the boy's breathing seemed to be getting deeper.

"Don't be afraid Sweetheart. You are not in trouble, I promise," Aizawa told the blonde softly, seeing the fear of being left alone with him.

Since it worked so well before, Aizawa sat down on the floor, his back resting on the hallway wall and his feet crisscrossed like a school kid. With the comforting words and the visual of a sort of truce, Bakugou became relaxed enough to let go of Izuku's shirt.

"I wait for you Kacchan, I promise I won't go asleep," Midoryia said and Bakugou gave him a firm nod, trusting the green-haired boy to hold his promise.

Bakugou took a step back from Aizawa, making sure there was no space for the man to leap forward and grab him. There was increasing anxiety as Bakugou was separated from Midoryia, causing him to look a couple of feet down the hallway toward their bedroom door. The boy raised his thumb to his mouth and chewed on the tip of his finger with excessive force. 

“Don’t hurt yourself, remember your chew? Where is it?” Aizawa asked when he saw that Katsuki’s thumb held an indentation of his teeth when switched to biting his palm. 

Remembering the new tool provided to him Bakugou patted his pajama pants and found the chew safely tucked away in his left pocket. The boy began to chew on the orange crystal, using more force than when he bit his own hands. With Bakugou being soothed by his chew, Aizawa began the difficult conversation. 

"Katsuki, do you remember how you wet the bed last night?"

Bakugou's cheeks became red at the memory of last night's accident, the shame coming back to his mind. Even so, the blonde was still vigilant of the man's intentions so he didn't answer, instead, he began to chew rapidly, the embarrassment swelling in his chest becoming too much for him to handle.

"I know you don't want to wear diapers but you can't keep this up every night. If you keep peeing on the bed then we have to give you a quick shower and change the sheets every night and that's not good for your sleep," Aizawa knew that these were long sentences for a child Bakugou's age but he wanted the blonde to feel like this was a decision and not a punishment.

"No! No no no no no!" Bakugou's answer was immediate and made it clear that he hated the idea.

"It doesn't feel nice getting dirty at night and making a mess in the bed. Is it uncomfortable?" Aizawa tried to get it into Bakugou's mind that this wasn't something meant to embarrass him.

Bakugou nodded his head at the question and had a look in his eyes that Aizawa recognized. The boy was thinking about something in the past, maybe remembering the time he had accidents while being potty trained.

"Are you feeling embarrassed?" Aizawa asked and Bakugou nodded.

"I've been embarrassed before too, want to know a secret?" This question brought shining curiosity into Bakugou's eyes and the boy walked closer to the man.

"Secret?" Bakugou questioned making a shush gesture, Aizawa smiled and copied the expression.

"Yeah a secret so don't tell anybody okay?" Aizawa played out a worried face and Bakugou nodded to reassure the man.

"I had to wear a pull-up at night until I was six," Aizawa whispered shouted the confession so Bakugou could hear him properly.

"Really?" Bakugou asked his eyes shining at the new information of vulnerability shared by his adult caregiver. It was the first time Bakugou had heard such a story about an adult, even if the embarrassing thing happened a long time ago it made Bakugou feel better about his situation.

"Yeah, so you wearing one right now is not a bad thing. You'll only need to wear it for a little while until you stop peeing in your sleep," Aizawa tried to make some sense of the situation, not telling the complete truth about how long Bakugou would need to wear them because he didn't know how big the kids trauma is that caused the bedwetting in the first place.

"Hmph," Bakugou huffed at the suggestion, rejecting it for a second time. The break of the ice was a nice start but not enough to fully convince the boy.

"What can I do to make you wear them?" The question Aizawa asked seemed to have yet to make it into the boy's mind. Instead, Bakugou was crossing his arms and sneering, his chew falling out his mouth as he regained his confidence.  

"Is it because of Izuku?" Aizawa pondered and Katsuki stiffed at the implication. Bakugou pouted and his once proud stance wavered at the truth behind his hesitancy.

"Izuku doesn't need to know, I can put them on in secret after you shower while Izuku gets the bed ready. It can be our secret." Aizawa felt progress as he thought of a way to persuade the blonde to go along with his plan.

Bakugou took a moment to think about the plan the man had offered him and decided that wetting the bed was more embarrassing than secretly wearing a diaper. With the solution of keeping the nighttime pull-ups a secret from Izuku, Bakugou reached the conclusion that he would agree to the man's terms.

"What do you think? Want to wear the diaper today and see if you want to wear it tomorrow night too?" To seal the deal Aizawa asked the question in a way to make it more favorable, making tonight a trial run.

"Okay secret," Bakugou replied and made a shush gesture again to ensure Aizawa knew to keep this to themselves.

"Got it, no telling Izuku." Aizawa said to put the boy's mind at ease.

"Thanks for talking to me, you are being very good. It makes me happy." Aizawa smiled softly at the kid but Bakugou just huffed still irritated he had to wear the pull-up in the first place.

It was strange to Aizawa that it was only Bakugou suffering from bed wetting. It was made apparent that they both completed their potty training by the way Izuku was adamant about them not needing diapers since "Auntie" trained them. Something changed in between that time to make Bakugou regress to a time where he was more dependent.

No one's here? That's the question Bakugou tried to ask when he woke up from his nightmare last night. That screaming wasn't unfocused general terror, it was the fear of being hurt—specifically the fear of being hurt by someone unknown. With the information of his caregivers being dead at the scene, there are two theories Aizawa came up with.

One. Bakugou was a witness to his parent's murder. Or Two. Bakugou found his parents already dead at the scene. Either way, the boy had seen the brutality of a killer which would be enough to give anyone nightmares. Even so, Aizawa also pondered that maybe Bakugou kept whatever he saw to himself and kept Izuku away from that terror. The green boy wasn't nearly as afraid as Bakugou and seemed to have no idea of what was going on.

Chapter Text

For the first time that week, Aizawa had a nice night of decent sleep. So when he woke up to the early sunrise at six in the morning he didn't feel the need to go back to sleep. Instead, he went to check up on the kids sleeping in the next room.

With a great big stretch, Aizawa hopped out of bed and walked quietly into the room. The door slowly creaked open to reveal Izuku and Katsuki still sleeping together on the small twin-sized mattress. The man leaned on the entryway, the corner of his mouth moving up as he saw the boys sleeping peacefully. Bakugou didn't have a night terror tonight and Izuku was still in his arms, face dug into Katsuki's chest.

Just when Aizawa was about to leave them to rest a while more, Izuku stirred and turned around to face away from Katsuki. This in turn caused the Allmight plush that was at the corner of the bed to fall to the floor and hide slightly under the bed. Aizawa quietly walked into the room to retrieve the plush so that the boys wouldn't lose track of it.

That's when a smell hit Aizawa's nose, not a particularly bad smell but more like something sweet that wanted to rot. With a pit in his stomach, Aizawa got on his knees and looked under the bed with the flashlight on his phone. There towards the corner end of the bed touching the wall was a small mound of food.

Confused, Aizawa reached out and pulled a mysterious food item towards himself. A slimy texture graced his fingertips and he cringed at the sensation. To his displeasure he had pulled out a half-eaten mostly rotting banana from the depths, the peel still on but an ugly brown and black color.

That wasn't all. After pulling out all the items at the back, Aizawa found a small stash of food. This stash consisted of half a banana, two boxes of raisins, an orange (thankfully not rotting), a slice of bread, a mustard bottle (warm), an egg, and a sippy cup half full of water. Without counting the human food there was one more object unlike the others. A can of cat food, the same that was kept in the pantry in the kitchen.

Aizawa had seen this before, mostly in slightly older kids. They were struggling with food security. The man sighed as he recognized the behavior, it was a hard habit to help break. Aizawa wasn't angry, not even with the thorough cleaning he would have to do under the bed to make sure no trace of the rotting banana was left. More than anything he was slightly disappointed in himself for not thinking of this issue earlier. Food was an issue with the boys so in turn he should've thought to look out for these kinds of things.

There was shuffling above Aizawa as one of the kids moved around in the bed. Aizawa was still on the floor so he held still, hoping the kids were still asleep so he wouldn't startle them. However green eyes peered over the ledge of the bed, and quickly the groggy face of Izuku snapped awake as the boy saw the man lying on the floor, peering back up at him. In his half-asleep state, Izuku didn't recognize the man and the boy's eyes shot open in fear. Quickly Midoryia jumped back to the wall, a scream escaping his mouth.

"It's just me! I'm sorry!" Aizawa quickly got up, raising his hands in the air.

However, the damage was already done, if Midoryia's scream didn't wake Bakugou the way Izuku fell on top of the sleeping blonde did. A puff of air escaped Bakugou's lips as the weight of Midoryia was put on top of his stomach.

Bakugou's eyes shot open as he sat up from the bed, his eyes darting around the room until they landed on Aizawa. The light from the window behind Aizawa made it so that his facial features were unidentifiable to Katsuki, making him a tall shadow of a man.

Bakugou's eyes which were filled with groggy confusion opened wide with terror as the boy realized the worst of his fears had come true. The blonde's heart started to pick up as he saw that he was in a dark room, cornered with an adult stranger looming over him. Bakugou screamed as he felt powerless to defend himself from the nonexistent threat. The scream in turn made Midoryia panic even more, the boy closing his eyes tight as he began to cry in the back of Bakugou's shirt.

Aizawa quickly went to turn on the light, hoping the boys would calm down as they recognized him. The instant the lights went on Aizawa saw fault in his plan, instead of darkness the boys still couldn't see with the sudden blinding light. Bakugou's eyes shut at the sudden light and pushed himself back into Midoryia, pinning the green-haired boy to the wall. Bakugou still kept his arms out to make sure nothing was grabbing Izuku from behind him. To this Izuku grabbed onto Katsuki, hugging the blonde tightly from behind.

Sounds escaped Bakugou's throat that sounded like it wanted to be words but just sounded like pleading babbling. Tears are coming from his tightly shut eyes, running down from his cheeks to his chin.

"Katsuki, Izuku. it's okay, it's just me. Mister Aizawa. Remember? You're safe. I promise." The man tried once again to get the boys to recognize him but only Izuku held still.

Midoryia was first to adjust his eyes to the sudden change of lighting. Peeking from behind Katsuki, Izuku's squinting eyes scanned the man's face and saw that it was just the man who had been caring for them the last couple of days.

"Mister Aizawa?" Izuku called out unsure, rubbing the tears out of his eyes with tiny fists, trying to see better.

"Yes, it's just me. I'm not going to hurt you two. Katsuki?" Aizawa used a soft tone as Bakugou's eyes adjusted, that's when the man noticed that obviously, the blonde didn't have his hearing aids on. With that Aizawa slowly made his way to the bedside table and grabbed it for the boy. Handing it to Bakugou which the boy shakily accepted with trembling hands.

"You are safe. You and Izuku are safe. Nobody is here. Nobody is going to hurt you two." Aizawa spoke the words slowly and clearly for Bakugou and Midoryia. Their tear-streaked faces looked up at him for reassurance.

"Safe?" Bakugou questioned, sniffling and rubbing off the tears from his face.

"Yes. You are safe." Aizawa repeated the same words.

"Promise?" Izuku spoke up from behind Katsuki.

"I promise."

"Safe Kacchan?" Midoryia directed his question to Bakugou who was still looking into Aizawa's eyes unblinking. Finally, after a couple of seconds, Bakugou wiped the last tears falling from his eyes and nodded.

"Safe," Bakugou reassured Izuku. A small sigh of relief escaped Izuku's lips as the tension released from his shoulders. Bakugou on the other hand was still tense, his gaze focused on Aizawa.

Seeing that he was still frightened, Aizawa picked up the AllMight plush from the floor and handed it to the boy. Bakugou accepted the plush with less shaky hands and gave it a deep pressure hug.

"Again, I'm sorry I scared you two. I won't come in anymore without knocking okay?" Aizawa felt like he had taken two steps back with this mistake. The boys weren't scared anymore but still held an uneasy look in their eyes as they nodded. They were waiting for the man's next move, looking at his next step to be sure they weren't in danger.

"Let's get you dressed for the day and then I'll make breakfast. Does that sound okay?" Aizawa asked and they nodded again, they were unsure of their words, scared of saying the wrong thing.  Usually, he wouldn't change their clothes until after breakfast but with the fright Aizawa gave Bakugou it was probable that the young kid lost control of his bladder and he needed to change him as soon as he had the chance.

"How about some pancakes again? With Banana slices?" Aizawa decided on a special breakfast to make up for his morning mistake and their eyes instantly got their light back. The man had picked up on their favorite past meals. Izuku had happy memories of his mother's pancakes and Katsuki loved bananas. Aizawa was ninety percent sure it was Bakugou who hid the rotting fruit under the bed.

"Can we ha-?" Izuku asked but was quickly silenced by the soft jab of Katsuki's elbow in his stomach.

"It's okay, ask your question Izuku darling." Aizawa encouraged Izuku to ask his question again. There was an uneasy look on Bakugou's face but he let the green-haired boy speak.

"Can we eat dinosaurs eggs again?" Izuku asked.

"The oatmeal?" Aizawa asked and the boy nodded meekly.

"Of course! Anything you want." Aizawa said and Izuku's eyes lit up along with a smile.

"C-can," Katsuki started, unsure if he was also allowed to ask questions.

"Go ahead and ask," Aizawa said to put some ease on the blonde's mind.

"Can have strawberry too?"

"Yes, you can have some yummy strawberries as well," Aizawa agreed to the boy's request and his eyes widened in awe at the acceptance.

The boys made their way off the bed as Aizawa picked out some clothes for the boys. Just as the man turned around he saw that Bakugou pushed something under the bed, quickly standing on his feet as he caught the man's gaze. Izuku took a step next to Bakugou, giving a shaky smile, and looked Aizawa in the eye for a second before his gaze retreated to the floor.

"Too late, I saw the food under the bed," Aizawa told them remembering the discovery he made earlier. Now that he was reminded he should try to fix that problem as well, especially the cat food part. Luckily due to some similar experience from the past, he doesn't buy the pull-tab cat food cans anymore.

"It me not Deku," Katsuki stepped forward, guilt on his face as he confessed to his misdoing. Again like the day before, Katsuki raised his head for a backhanded hit from Aizawa. Izuku's frown reappeared as he looked on at the scene before him.

"I won't hit you," Aizawa told him as Katsuki started to tremble from the expectation of the punishment. The man crouched down to Katsuki's level, making eye contact.

"Listen, I don't mind you hiding food under the bed but you can't eat cat food. That's for Lady, you have your own food-"

"Not for me," Bakugou spoke up, cutting off Aizawa mid-sentence for the first time.

"Who's it for?"

"Lady."

"It is for Lady?" Aizawa asked and Bakugou nodded, his heart swelled as he realized that the boy was saving food for Lady just in case Aizawa didn't feed her.

"You're such a sweet boy, thank you for thinking about Lady. But she'll always be fed. You'll always be fed too." Aizawa tried to ease the boys' fear but it was clear by Bakugou's pouting face and longing gaze at the food pile that it wasn't a fear he was going to get over quickly.

"Okay, you can keep the food for Lady. But all this other stuff has to go," Bakugou let out a small whine as he comprehended that Aizawa would take his stash away.

"But!" Aizawa caught Bakugou's interest again to keep the boy from spiraling, "You can pick out some food to keep under there, I just need to approve of it first."

"You not mad? The bed food not bad?" Midoryia spoke up from behind Katsuki.

"I don't like it because we have food in the kitchen, but Bakugou gets nervous without it. Is that right sweetheart?" Aizawa asked and Bakugou nodded, confirming his theory on the blonde's food insecurity.

"Let's go choose some food that won't go bad like that rotting banana okay?" Aizawa pointed out the black mess of a peeled banana, just to make sure Bakugou understood why this was happening. To keep him safe.

For the next twenty minutes, Aizawa let Bakugou and Midoryia pick out some food to keep under the bed. Rejecting perishables and ingredients like sugar and grounded up paprika. The approved foods consisted of things like crackers, cereal bars, soft cookies sealed in easily tearable packets, fruit roll-ups, and soft candies, and they got to keep the boxes of raisins

"This looks like a good haul. But before we put it under the bed let's put it in a proper tin. That way it won't go bad." Aizawa took out an empty rounded tin from the pantry, one he kept for cases like these. The tin was easily openable but had a seal good enough to keep the food from going bad and prevent ants from coming in but still easy enough for the boys to open.

"There you go, try to see if you can open it," Aizawa put the food inside, closed it, and handed it to Izuku. The green-haired boy pulled and the case easily opened in his arms with a soft tug.

"Here Kacchan," Izuku unsure of what to do with the box handed it to Katsuki. The blonde opened and closed the box, making sure that he could also open it.

"Go ahead and hide it where you want, then come back for breakfast," Aizawa permitted Bakugou to be out of his sight for a minute to hide the box. This in turn gives the blonde peace of mind about where to keep his stash.

Aizawa let out a frustrated sigh as Midoryia followed Bakugou. The man wasn't frustrated at the boys for having this issue, these kinds of behavior issues came with the territory of his job. Aizawa was feeling thwarted by the new issue, he had never really made progress with this issue before. Most of his temporary fosters left without resolving the behavior and it always made him feel defeated. These emotions didn't make him less determined to fight the issue, instead, he knew the plan to enact. Giving them the container was step one, but he will ensure they know that food won't be an issue over time.

Over time

Aizawa reminded himself that he didn't have time. Instead, he would need to work on that detailed report for their next foster parent. It was always disheartening to be made aware that he wouldn't be the one who would ultimately solve this issue with them.

Chapter Text

"Snack time!" Aizawa called out as he got a classic American Lunchable from out of the fridge.

The boys who were previously entertaining themselves by drawing in the living room immediately shot up at the mention of a snack.

"Stay there! You guys can eat and watch a movie!" Aizawa called out to them as he opened the two packs so they wouldn't struggle. That's when Aizawa recalled that Bakugou wouldn't like the crunchiness of the crackers. Seeing the problem, the man tried to think of a solution to not waste the meal. Luckily the solution quickly revealed itself. Simply he grabbed Bakugou's crackers wrapped them in a damp towel and microwaved them for a couple of seconds which made the crackers soft like bread.

While Aizawa prepared their snack, Midoryia happily made his way to the other side of the table so he could sit next to Bakugou, so he wouldn't be in the way of the television. They usually sat across from each other, mostly because Izuku unconsciously fidgeted a lot and in turn would bother Katsuki by bumping into him. Although even across the table Bakugou wasn't safe from Midoryia's stims. Just a while ago the blonde got pelted in the face with a crayon that Izuku was rotating around in his non-dominant hand. Luckily Katsuki only gave out an angry huff and with an accompanied glare to an apologizing Izuku.

"Here you go, Be good and eat the sweet after," Aizawa told them and the kids nodded impatiently, waiting for their snack.

When the man placed the lunchables on the table Izuku let out a delighted squeal as he saw that the package divided everything into neat segments. Katsuki was also happy with his meal, seeing the sweet treat in the corner.

"What do you boys want to watch? Disney? Studio Ghibli?" Aizawa asked as he turned on the television for them, sitting back on the couch behind them.

"What's udio gebvli?" Izuku questioned and Aizawa instantly opened a streaming service to watch one of their movies.

"It's cartoons, let me put you a nice one," Aizawa quickly put on the movie My Neighbor Totoro. He felt like it was a proper fit since the characters are making a home out of a new place and having fun.

The movie started and the boys watched as they ate their snack. Even though Bakugou took his time to properly make a sandwich out of the ingredients provided he still ate faster than Izuku who decided the best way to eat a lunchable was one quadrant at a time. It was wrong sure but Izuku didn't care and Aizawa had no need to correct him, he would let the boys eat how they wanted.

Bakugou picked up his sweet treat, a Butterfinger, and unwrapped it from its wrapper. The boy put the whole thing in his mouth his eyes lighting up at the sudden sweetness making his cheeks cringe. The boy felt happy and tapped his fingers happily on the coffee table. That happiness didn't last long because once he bit into the chocolate he was surprised to find a rough crunchy texture once he bit into it.

Bakugou’s face cringed up at the crunchy texture and he immediately jumped up from his seat. The candy shot out of Bakugou's mouth and onto the floor next to him. The unpleasant situation left shivers running down Bakugou's spine as he licked his teeth to eliminate the sensation. 

"Are you okay? What happened?" Aizawa sat forward on the couch as he saw Bakugou become distressed.

"Bad food," Bakugou shook his head from left to right in quick rapid succession as he tried to get rid of the unpleasant feeling.

"Crunch?" Izuku questioned and Bakugou nodded. Aizawa sighed at yet another mistake he made, forgetting to check the texture of the candy.

"Here I eat this one before, soft no crunch!" Izuku grabbed the Reese's cup from his Lunchable and handed it to Katsuki.

Aizawa's heart swelled at Izuku's selflessness, giving up his own sweet treat for Bakugou to enjoy without expecting anything in return.

"Thank you," Bakugou smiled as Midoryia handed him the treat, in turn making the green-haired boy smile wide as well. At least Bakugou understands the sacrifice Izuku made to make him happy and appreciates it.

"Such good boys," Aizawa sighed happily, leaning forward to ruffle Midoryia's hair as praise. Izuku liked doing good and being told he was good made him overjoyed to the point where he had to shake his hands from the overflow of the emotion. The small boy giggled and leaned into Aizawa's hand, shaking his head in the man's palm.

Oh.. he's letting me

Aizawa took his hand off Midoryia's head as soon as he realized he did so without permission, although he also realized the action was received positively for the first time. The man smiled at the progress he made, the boy was beginning to trust him. Izuku was capable and open to positive physical touch, Aizawa just needed to remember to ask first, the man was lucky it wasn't received poorly.

Bakugou ate the sweet treat in basically one bite, making sure it was soft and swallowing as the chocolate melted in his mouth. Midoryia was still eating the actual food part and was just a couple of crackers away from finishing.

"Can I get orange?" Bakugou spoke up to Aizawa. This was good, the blonde still had some fear in his eyes and his breaths were slightly quicker when asking questions but he was confident enough to trust that asking Aizawa this question could be okay.

"Yeah of course!" Aizawa began to get up but Bakugou shook his head no, stretching out his arms to block the man.

"You want to get it yourself?" Shouta questioned the only possibility and Bakugou nodded.

"Okay?" Aizawa agreed and sat back down, a little unsure of Katsuki's intentions.

Bakugou scampered to the kitchen and under Aizawa's watchful eye from the couch carefully moved and climbed up a chair to reach the fruit bowl on the counter. The man was nervous for the boy seeing he had fallen from the chair before but was ready to jump in at the sign of danger. Luckily his fear was unwarranted because just as quickly as he got up, Bakugou was down again with the fruit in his hand.

"It's going to eat her!" Izuku got up from his seat as his emotions rose with the sudden introduction of the big gray creature in the movie.

Bakugou ran back to the coffee table, eager to see what was happening next in the movie. Aizawa thought the blonde would ask him to peel the orange but that wasn't the case. Luckily for Bakugou those so-called "oranges" were kid-friendly cuties, easily peel-able.

"Eeeee she's touching the monster? It's so big! What is him?" Izuku couldn't help but rock on his heels, his fist on his chest as he excitedly and nervously looked on.

"Shhh!" Bakugou shushed Midoryia, the green-haired boy passing on his anxiety to the blonde.

Izuku sat back down, finishing the last of his cheese as the scene played on. It was the part where the little girl hops on Totoro's stomach and first encounters the forest spirit.

"It's not going to eat her?" Izuku looked back to Aizawa and the man shook his head no.

Bakugou by the end of the scene had barely finished peeling his orange since he kept pausing throughout the introduction of the creature. Katsuki was oddly efficient with his ability to ready the fruit for consumption, peeling it in a way that the full peel was intact and separating the crescent pieces without piercing the thin film. Aizawa was prepared to bring them some hand wipes to clean their juice-filled hands but unlike other children, Bakugou didn't make a mess.

Katsuki put the now separated pieces of orange in front of Midoriya, putting them aligned neatly in a straight line. Izuku's green eyes shined as he realized that all the hard work Katsuki was putting into peeling the orange was for him.

"Thank you Kacchan," Izuku said to the blonde but all Katsuki did was nod.

"Bakugou, don't you want one of your own?" Aizawa asked and Katsuki pulled out another cutie from in front of him.

"Oh I didn't see it, do you want me to peel it?" Aizawa questioned even though the man knew the boy would say no.

Bakugou shook his head no and started to peel his orange. To Aizawa's confusion, Katsuki was less patient with his share. Bakugou peeled it in one big piece again but was less gentle, resulting in some juice coating his fingertips. Mindlessly the boy watched the movie and ate the fruit, pulling apart the crescent pieces messily.

Oh, that's why.

Aizawa thought as he saw that Izuku was carefully eating the pieces given to him by Bakugou. The blonde peeled the orange for Izuku because if the green boy got sticky hands he would find it unpleasant. As seen before, Izuku didn't like to be sticky or dirty, if he were to peel an orange even if he was careful it would be stressful. Like disarming a bomb but instead of an explosion, it would be some stray juice making his hands sticky.

Aizawa sat back on the couch, resting his back on the softness of the cushions. His eyes closed for seconds at a time as he struggled to stay awake. It would be irresponsible for him to sleep with the false security of the boys watching a movie. So Aizawa didn't sleep, he just closed his eyes, keeping an ear out for the boys' actions. "Micro sleep" he calls it.

Chapter Text

A whine came from the back of Izuku's throat as he watched the movie scene before him. Aizawa opened his eyes as he heard the distress noise coming from the boy. Izuku started crying at the scene in the movie where the character Mei was sad that her mother couldn't come home that weekend from the hospital and her slightly older sister was scolding her for not thinking rationally.

Shit, I forgot about that.

Aizawa didn't know what to do and for that reason, he instantly turned off the television. Izuku turned to the blonde, blinking away tears as another whine escaped his mouth. Bakugou was still looking at the television, strangely still.

The man didn't know what to do. Aizawa had accidentally shown them a sad movie which to Izuku was the same circumstance he was in. A little kid wanting his mom to come home.

"Kacchan, I miss my mom," Izuku choked out the words and reached out to grab Katsuki's shirt.

At the slight tug of his shirt, Bakugou turned around to face the green-haired boy. There were tears of his own in his eyes and he grinded his teeth in his jaw. The blonde didn't know what to say. Usually, he was like the older sister in the movie, telling Izuku that his mother would come back soon. But unlike the movie, Katsuki knew he was lying. And now the movie laid out to him the harm of that but that was all he knew what to do.

"Soon," Bakugou muttered out, wiping his tears from his eyes and grabbing the chew crystal from his pocket.

"Not soon! It always never soon! I want my mom!" Izuku cried out and raised his voice. Katsuki took a couple of steps back as Izuku unconsciously got closer to the boy's face.

"Soon!" Katsuki spat out the word again.

"Stop that word! Don't know other words?!" Izuku was crying but was at the point where he felt more anger than sorrow. But the instant the words left his mouth, Midoryia instantly regretted it.

"Izuku!" Aizawa said the name like a scold, but the damage was done. Midoryia had inflicted an emotional wound on his best friend.

The blonde's breathing was quick as he began to cry at the harsh words. Bakugou was too much in a state of shock to talk back, opening his mouth as if to say a word but then just closing it to instead chew on his crystal.

"Kacchan I'm sorry!" Izuku apologized and pulled on Bakugou's shirt. Bakugou started to cry harder as he thought about the words Midoryia said to him.

"I-I'm n-nnnot sss-" Bakugou pushed Izuku away and tried to say words but the emotions in his chest and head didn't let him.

"You're not stupid Bakugou." Aizawa finished the statement for the boy and the blonde looked up to him with tears in his eyes.

"We know you're not stupid," Aizawa repeated the words, Bakugou looking directly into his eyes for a sign of dishonesty. Aizawa didn't like to use the word stupid in front of children but he needed Bakugou to understand using his own words.

"I'm sorry Kacchan!" Izuku cried out louder as he reached out for the blonde's shirt again. Bakugou harshly pushed Midoryia's arm away and took another couple of steps back. Not being able to tug on the Bakugou’s shirt, Midoryia decided that pulling his own curls would would be a nice replacement. 

"B-bad!" Katsuki stuttered out one last word and pointed at Izuku. This word crushed Midoryia just like his unintentional outburst hurt Bakugou.

"No, I'm not! Kacchan, I'm sorry! Please stop being mad, you my best friend Kacchan. You know words." Izuku was yelling out now since it was the only way he was able to talk through his tears. The more Bakugou took steps away the more wound up Midoryia got, flapping his arms in distress, not knowing what to do to resolve this conflict.

Bakugou took out his hearing aids while looking Midoryia in the eye. Tears fell from Katsuki's face but his jaw was clenched in anger. With furrowed eyebrows and anger in the blonde's eyes Bakugou raised his tiny fist and extended out his middle finger.

"Katsuki!" Aizawa tried to scold but of course, Bakugou couldn't hear him.

"That not fair!" Izuku yelled out again shaking as his sobs took over his whole body. Aizawa cringed as the boy pulled his own hair harder, his scalp visibly being moved. Midoryia fell to the ground hitting the floor and crying out his frustration and sadness unapologetically.

"I want Mom! I want Mom! I want to see Mom! Mom now! Now! Mom! Mom! Mom!" Izuku kept hitting the floor, his tiny fist at the risk of getting carpet burn if he continued. At this Katsuki didn't budge, instead sitting himself down in a corner to cry.

"Izuku darling," Aizawa called out softly at the boy but it was only met with louder incoherent sobs. Aizawa decided to let Midoryia cool down on his own and instead went to the quieter Bakugou in the corner.

The blonde was hugging his legs and covering his face with his knees. The man tapped the boy's shoulder and Bakugou swung out one of his arms in an offensive swipe. The blonde looked back at Aizawa with his crystal chew in his gritted teeth and angry tears in his eyes. Once he saw that it was Aizawa and not Izuku, Katsuki's eyes flickered to fear, and his sneer faded into a frown. Aizawa crouched down to the boy's level and tapped his own ear to tell the boy to put on his hearing aids, which the boy obeyed. Once Bakugou placed them back in he grimaced at Izuku's loud cries but bared with it to follow the man's command.

"Katsuki sweetheart, Izuku didn't mean to make you feel bad. He said sorry. Won't you be a good boy and forgive him?" Aizawa questioned but Bakugou just huffed angrily, wiping his remaining tears with his fist.

"You are feeling sad because Izuku said something mean right?" Aizawa asked, Bakugou nodded getting up and turning around to face the man.

"It's okay to be mad when someone says something mean. But Izuku doesn't want to be mean, he is just hurting because he misses his mom. I know you understand that too right?"

Bakugou began to cry again, letting his orange chew fall from his mouth. The blonde whimpered and sat back down on the floor to hug his knees once again.

"Me mm me too," Bakugou choked out his words as yet another round of tears fell from his eyes.

"You miss your mom and dad too?" Aizawa asked and Bakugou nodded.

"You know what happened to them right?" Aizawa asked a hard question but Bakugou was smart enough to know what he was talking about. Bakugou nodded, acknowledging that he knew his parents were dead. Tears fell down his cheeks in large streaks as the boy grieved silently. Aizawa had a feeling this wasn't the only time he had cried about his parents by how quickly he accepted the reality. But no matter how much he cried the hole in the boy's heart was still there.

"You are going to be okay sweetheart. I am going to make sure you are okay. It's okay to cry. Do you want a hug?" Aizawa took the long shot of asking to comfort the child but was immediately denied with a vicious head shake. Instead, the blonde looked past the man and to Izuku who was now crying into the mat of the living room.

"I think Izuku would feel better if you forgive him, you two only have each other now," Aizawa guided Bakugou to make a peaceful resolution with Midoryia. Those words seem to have struck something in Bakugou because he slowly started to make his way to the crying child.

"Isduku," Bakugou struggled with Izuku's name until deciding to use his nickname, "Deku!"

Bakugou grabbed the back of Midoryia's shirt and yanked the boy up from the floor. Izuku let out a small scream before realizing it was just Katsuki. The green-haired boy tried to make words in between his crying sobs but it just came out as distressed gibberish.

Without prompting from Midoryia, Bakugou hugged the boy. Izuku cried into Bakugou's shoulder and wrapped his arms around his dear friend with a force stronger than hugs before. The boy's grip concerned Aizawa for their skinny weak frames but Izuku started to get calmer into the blonde's arms. Eventually, Midoryia was putting his whole weight on Bakugou causing the blonde to sit on the floor so that Midoryia could wrap his legs around his waist. Izuku needed so badly to be close to Katsuki, it looked like he wanted to absorb the boy in his own body. They held this position for a while, Bakugou rubbing circles on the boy's back, soothing Midoryia and himself in the process by feeling the texture.

"I miss too," Bakugou spoke out his grief opening up to Midoryia without revealing the ugly truth.

"Soon," Izuku repeated the same lie Katsuki always said to him. Bakugou let out a soft whine as he let his chin rest on Izuku's shoulder. The word felt so ugly now. The blonde now realized why Izuku was so mad with that constantly repeated word. Bakugou stopped the motion of his hands and instead chose to hug Midoryia tighter, nestling his face in Izuku's neck as he let out a whimper. Soon will never come. Bakugou knows that but Midoryia doesn't.

Right then both Aizawa and Bakugou had roughly the same thought. Keeping the fact that Midoryia's mother was dead was lying and giving him false hope that would hurt him in the long run. Along with Bakugou's sadness was also regret for lying to his companion.

Aizawa wanted to tell the truth to Midoryia, to be the one to guide him through his grief but if anyone was going to break the news to him it was going to be his permanent foster. Aizawa couldn't work out Midoryia's grief in these next few days so it would be better for the boy to live in ignorance for a couple more days. So the new foster could start the grief process with the boy and guide him through it.

These emotions the boys were feeling needed to be felt, so Aizawa didn't interfere with their process. They were the only comfort to themselves, the man not being one of those comforts. So instead of trying to make that connection Aizawa decided to instead try to make their day better another way.

Allmight. The boys loved the number one superhero and it was obvious they found great comfort in him. There was a movie that came out recently, well more of a documentary about the hero's Bronze Age to celebrate his upcoming new era. Still, given the way Izuku spouted out facts about the hero, and Katsuki finding exceeding comfort from the merchandise plush it was okay to assume they would love to see it.

Aizawa tried not to make a sound as he slowly made his way back to the couch, trying to disturb their much-needed consolation in each other. Quietly the man turned back on the television, instantly hitting mute but a second of sound broke the silence. Bakugou who was facing the way of Aizawa, opened his eyes and glared at the man for the interruption.

Ignoring the glare, Aizawa took off the movie that caused the outburst to occur and instead looked up the new documentary. Of course, it was on a streaming service he didn't have but the extra six thousand yen to rent the movie meant nothing to him at the moment.

"Allmight?" Izuku's voice was a little hoarse from crying so even being right next to Bakugou's ear made him hard to understand. Katsuki let out a soft questioning hmm noise.

"Allmight TV video," Izuku repeated his discovery as the Aizawa's purchase went through. The renting page clearly shows Allmight on the movie's cover.

Midoryia got up and broke the hug between himself and Bakugou. Izuku wiped his remaining tears and then reached out his hand to Bakugou, helping him up. Izuku didn't let go of the blonde's hand, instead leading him towards the couch. Not wanting to cause them more distress, Aizawa surrendered his spot on the couch and instead sat on a love seat on the far side of the living room.

Midoryia let go of Bakugou's hand for a moment as they climbed the couch but once the blonde settled down, the green-haired boy leaned in on him, resting his head on Bakugou's shoulder and holding his hand again. Izuku found comfort in keeping Bakugou close, and it looked like Bakugou didn't mind it as long as it was Izuku.

Chapter Text

Personal notes from former foster, Shouta Aizawa. Feel free to call or text xxx-xxx-xxx for questions or advice regarding the boys or email [email protected]. If you email expect to have an answer by the next day or feel free to resend that email. 

Izuku Midoryia (The green-haired boy with freckles)

-Flight risk (I think he follows Katsuki)
-Enjoys dimmer lighting
-Dislikes being dirty or sticky (can cause meltdown, keep hand wipes on hand)
-Will walk around the perimeter of an area before playing in it (FE a yard or rug)
-Constantly moving (Stimming?)
-Malnourished
-Food must be separated (Divider plates have worked)
-Has trouble telling when he needs to go bathroom (no accidents but gentle reminders are encouraged)
-Doesn't know his mother is deceased. It is my opinion that he be told by his new caregiver so they can help him with the grief and get better luck in being adopted.
-Special interest in the pro hero Allmight (It's a comfort, I recommend merchandise to soothe him)
-Might be open to positive touch (Hugs and head pats)
-Avoids eye contact
-Enjoys watching Leon's Number World in the morning, and frequently counts with the show and throughout the day. I recommend taking him to a specialist to get to the bottom of his compulsive counting.
-Hygenie. Showers, not baths. Has a fear of being submerged in water for an unknown reason. I recommend exposure therapy over time but get advice from a specialist.
-Prone to the loud kind of meltdowns, screaming hitting the floor, crying, etc.

Katsuki Bakugou (blonde one with red eyes)

-Flight risk
-Overly cautious and distrusting of strangers
-Fear of being hit (Possibly abused)
-Has night terrors (Wears pull-ups to bed for occasional bed-wetting regressed behavior, keeps secret from Izuku because he feels embarrassed)
-Hard of hearing
-Dislikes crunchy texture in food
-Malnourished
-Has a problem overeating (Gentle redirections and reminders of his next meal. Don't deny food.)
-Hoards food (Give a safe tin, don't discourage. Please research and seek specialist)
-Occasionally says bad words (Doesn't know it's wrong, gently discouraged)
-Also enjoys Allmight
-Needs four pillows and sheets of the same fabric to go to bed. He will set the layout himself since he sleeps in a certain position.
-Enjoys textures on his hands
-Chews on his cheek and objects as a form of stimming (Gently encourage him to chew on his crystals instead)
-More prone to silent meltdowns where he disengages and goes non-verbal
-Strong connection to animals (Loves cats)

Both

-Again they are FLIGHT RISK keep doors locked at all times, especially at night 
-Discourage "Quiet hands" This phrase was used to repress their stims
-Any sign of anger will cause immediate fear (Possible trauma)
-They might be anemic I've noticed pale gums. They have no problem with eating broccoli so that's a good food source (Talk with a doctor)
-They enjoy sleeping in the same bed
-Pancakes and dinosaur oatmeal with fruits are a favorite breakfast (Lifts their moods)

Chapter Text

Midoryia and Bakugou were on the couch, Izuku drooling on Katsuki's shirt as they both decided to take a nap during the middle of the movie. It was clear they were interested, both silently watching without taking their eyes off the screen. But no matter how much they tried they couldn't stay awake during their internal clock’s nap time.

Their outbursts earlier must have tired them out because their nap lasted longer than usual today. The common hour-and-a-half nap lasted an hour more today resulting in a total of two hours and a half naps.

Aizawa spent that time tidying up the house, sweeping and mopping the house as the boys napped. Even the dishes that were left lazily in the sink from that morning's breakfast were quickly washed and hand-dried. That way everything would be clean and dry by the time they wake up.

Aizawa thought about what to make for lunch for the boys when they woke up. They were bound to wake up hungry since their last snack was hours ago and they were still upset with the unfortunate events of that morning so the man wanted a meal that would make them happy. A happy meal to cheer them up. A happy meal. Happy Meal ™. 

A happy meal from McDonald's! Sure it wasn't a true meal in the nutrition department but it would be a special treat for a kid. Aizawa had never seen a kid not be happy while receiving a happy meal, plus it came with hero toys!

There was a soft groan coming from the couch as Aizawa wiped the table clean a couple of yards away. The man held still, not wanting to prematurely wake up the kids if they were still tired. Slowly Aizawa turned around to check if the boys were sleeping. He saw two dark green eyes peering at him. Izuku had woken up from the nap first which was fitting since he was the one to fall asleep first.

Instead of engaging in eye contact, Midoryia rubbed his face on Bakugou's shoulder, causing the blonde to stir awake as well. Groggy crimson eyes slowly scanned the room before landing on Aizawa to which the man gave a soft nod. It was an acknowledgment that he knew they were awake but he didn't want to be loud since they were in a quiet state of mind.

Bakugou still feeling groggy decided to turn the tables on Midoriya and lean on the freckled boy for a change. Izuku was surprised when Katsuki let himself fall on the boy's lap but quickly accepted it. Still a bit muzzy himself, Midoryia relaxed back on the couch, softly petting Bakugou's hair on his lap as the blonde closed his eyes for a while more.

Aizawa did his best to adhere to their quiet time, he could tell Bakugou wasn't asleep by his breathing patterns. Izuku was mindlessly staring at the black screen of the tv, in his mind as well. However, Aizawa made the mistake of adjusting a chair to be neatly tucked under the table. The loud squeak of wood against wood made Bakugou's eyes open and gaze towards the man.

"Sorry Bakugou, sleep more if you want," Aizawa apologized and decided to stop cleaning for now. However it was too late, Bakugou rolled over face up on Izuku's lap and stretched out his arms and legs as far as they could go. This was a telltale sign that Bakugou was done with his idle quiet time.

"Hungry?" Aizawa questioned instead and Bakugou sat up and nodded.

"Midoryia? Are you hungry too?" Aizawa asked the green-haired boy who copied Bakugou's stretches. The green-haired boy just nodded, agreeing with the sentiment of his hunger.

"Have you guys ever heard of McDonald's?" Aizawa decided to question them, not knowing if they were neglected to the point of not knowing a popular kids' food.

"I knows! It's the ba da ba ba ba house!" Izuku sang out the jingle perfectly, his eyes lighting up as he got up from his spot on the couch.

"Yes! Bakugou do you know?" Aizawa asked but Bakugou looked up at the man with sad eyes as he shook his head softly from side to side.

"It's okay, it just means yummy food!" Aizawa watched as Katsuki's eyes relit at the mention of food.

"We get to have yummy food?" Izuku asked as he jumped down to the floor, rocking on his tip toes as he held his fist up excitedly.

"Yeah! Let's go get it!" Aizawa grabbed the car keys from the wall next to the entrance and made his way to the side door to the garage.

"Get it?" Izuku's excited voice was gone. The man turned around to find Izuku sitting on the floor, his once bright eyes, dark and staring intensely at the floor.

"Car?" Bakugou questioned Aizawa.

"You don't like the car?" Aizawa asked and he thought back to the first official day of their care. Tsukauchi mentioned Midoryia being in a car accident, the result being his deceased mother.

"It's scary when it's loud and what if we fly again?" Midoryia was still looking down, a bad memory replacing his vision.

"I promise to keep you safe. We don't have to go in the car if you are scared. I can have someone go get the food for us," Aizawa told the boy, crouching down to Midoryia's level.

"But," Izuku paused, tears threatening to fall from his eyes, "But the slide place is the the bestest! And the big window on top!"

"It's okay, another day. When you feel better." Aizawa reasoned with the boy, not thinking he was quite brave enough to face the car.

"No!" Izuku grabbed his curls, his free hand rising to his chest in a fist. "I can go! Kacchan never gos! We can go now!"

Izuku's heart was racing in his chest and to expel that bad energy he let go of his hair to use both his hands to flap them in the air. Even his breathing started to become rapid as he thought about the possibility of not going to McDonald's.

"Izuku darling, can you breathe slow for me? Everything is okay." Aizawa demonstrated a big breath and Izuku copied it without much thought.

"Again, breathe. We will do what we can. One step at a time okay?" Aizawa reassured the boy softly and Midoryia kept copying the big slow breaths.

"I'm being bad again right?" Izuku tried to keep up the calm breathing but couldn't help but whine.

"Again? No Midoryia. You have been very good."

"But I scared Kacchan this morning. I cry because the movie and woke you up. Then I made Kacchan cry and you got mad because I said bad stuff. Kacchan called me bad because I was mean. Now no McDonald's for Kacchan because I'm being bad because the car is scary!"

Izuku started to cry, feeling overwhelmed by the emotions hanging over him the whole day. In part, Aizawa felt responsible. Aizawa was the one who gave them a rough start in the morning, causing Izuku to fall on Katsuki by startling him. Putting on a sad movie that made the boys miss their parents. Which in turn made Izuku accidentally say something mean to Bakugou. It was a small fight but it still soured their day. And then the cherry on top, he forgot his mom died in a car accident so he should've anticipated some anxiety for the car.

"No. You've been very good. It was not your fault. Bakugou is still here. He forgave you. Right, Katsuki?" Aizawa asked and Midoryia looked over at Bakugou for confirmation.

"Not bad," Bakugou comforted Izuku in those few words, reaching out his hand for Midoryia to grab. The instant it was offered, Izuku wasted no time grabbing ahold of it. The way Midoryia held on tight concerned Aizawa, thinking that maybe he would hold on too tightly and leave marks on Bakugou's palm again.

"See you're not being bad. You're a very good boy. Just calm down for me okay?" Aizawa told him and Midoryia nodded, squeezing his eyes shut as he rocked on his tippy toes, trying to calm himself down.

Thinking of a way to help Midoryia, Aizawa remembered the few tools he had for this scenario. Leaving the boys for just a moment, Aizawa went to their room to retrieve a couple of items before returning.

"Here Midoryia. Try this." Aizawa handed the green-haired boy a squeeze ball, the one in yellow and red colors.

Midoryia wiped his tears before letting go of Katsuki's hand and grabbing the ball from Aizawa. The boy gave it a couple of hard squeezes then switched a rapid pace as he watched the yellow and red goo mix and separate inside.

"All Might is here too, you want to hold him?" Aizawa held the plush in front of Midoryia who slowly grabbed the plush to put under his arm.

"Everyone mad at me?" Izuku questioned his eyes still looking down at the floor.

"No one's mad," Aizawa reassured.

"Not mad," Bakugou saw the man comfort Izuku and said the same thing in the same tone. Copying good behavior. Still, he kept his distance, Bakugou offered his hand earlier but for the most part, he didn't like to cling.

"Izuku darling, do you want to talk about what happened? About why you are scared." Aizawa saw that Midoryia hadn't coped with his trauma and decided to open the conversation in case the boy decided to share.

"No please," Izuku whined not wanting to speak of it.

"Okay, you don't have to. Izuku, just remember that happened a long time ago. You are safe now. No more danger."

"No more danger?" Izuku asked.

"No more danger," Aizawa repeated his last statement.

"No danger," Bakugou also reassured Midoryia.

"Can we go?" Izuku asked, looking up at Aizawa but darting his eyes away when the man looked back at him confused.

"You still want to go?" The man asked and Midoryia nodded.

Aizawa was unsure of the situation. On one hand, Midoryia will be facing his fear by going on the drive but on the other hand, he might become overwhelmed in the car. Despite all that, facing his fear on his terms will be a huge accomplishment if he can get through it.

"Okay, let's go."

It took a while for Aizawa to put two kid seats in the car. The man had a small collection from the former years of fostering, some seats for older kids and some for those who weighed in the lesser category like them. Unfortunately, this resulted in Izuku getting even more anxious before the ride, seeing the car in the garage that to him seemed monstrous in size.

"Alright, Midoryia first." Aizawa waved the green-haired boy over and the boy slowly inched his way forward. Accepting the help Aizawa sat him down in his seat.

"Look, I'm putting in the metal thing. It's going to click and that means you are going to stay safe in your seat." Aizawa buckled in Midoryia's seatbelt and smiled as the belt made a satisfying click. The man correctly tightened the belt to the appropriate amount and raised the chest piece where it should be.

"You okay? We can go back inside whenever you want," Aizawa offered the boy an out, not wanting him to become overwhelmed by not having a choice anymore.

"I'm okay," Izuku squeaked, his squeeze ball making rapid sounds as he pressed on it.

"Look, Allmight is here," Aizawa raised the plush from the boy's side and placed it in the pocket of the back of the driver's seat so the boy could have a pinpoint in which to stare.

Midoryia let out a whine as Aizawa got out of the car to get Bakugou. The blonde didn't accept Aizawa's help to get into his seat, taking his time to climb into the car and sit himself down. However, Aizawa buckled him correctly despite the blonde's angry huffs.

"I’m making sure you're safe too," Aizawa told Bakugou who clicked his tongue and relaxed back into his seat.

"Kacchan," Izuku whined again, this time the tears threatening to escape fell down his face in streaks. Midoryia moved his squeeze ball from his right hand to his left and reached out his right hand for Bakugou. The blonde accepted it.

"You still want to go?" Aizawa asked the kid again, and Midoryia nodded, sniffing.

With that Aizawa went to the front of the car and took a deep breath before he started the car. The engine didn't exactly roar to life but it did make some noise while turning on. Even so, Aizawa heard a squeak come from Izuku, the man corrected his rearview mirror to watch the boys carefully. Bakugou glared as soon as he realized he was being watched but Midoryia had his eyes shut tight. The whine turned into whimpers as Aizawa started to drive the car out of the garage.

"Midoryia, do you still want to go?" Aizawa asked one final time before he went on the road.

"Ye-yes," Midoryia choked out the word as he held tighter to the ball and Katsuki's hand.

Aizawa taking a leap of faith continued his way out of the driveway, the bump on the way out causing everything to jump up slightly. This small action changed something in Izuku, the sensation of going up and losing gravity for a millisecond made him snap.

"Wait wait!" Midoryia yelled out and suddenly the hand holding the ball let go and instead turned into a fist in which he hit the side of the car harshly.

"Okay, I stopped. We don't hav-,"

"Let me out! Let me out! Let me out! Please! Please! I'll be good! Let me out! Let me out Muster Auizawa!" Izuku's breathing hitched as he tried to pull himself out of the seat, the seatbelt restraining him and pushing him back. When that didn't work he let go of Bakugou's hand, pulling on the seatbelt straps on his chest and trying to push himself through them. Realizing he was trapped Izuku yelled out some incoherent words of distress.

Aizawa put the car in a park which resulted in the car going forward for just a second, to this Midoryia let out a distressed squeal. His hyperventilating breathing got worse as Aizawa made his way out of the driver's seat and to his side. Izuku started to bang his head back on the seat and thrust himself forward in an attempt to get out of his seat.

"Izuku you're okay, you're okay baby. I'm here." Aizawa tried to unbuckle Izuku as fast as he could, finding it difficult as the boy violently tried to tear himself away from the seat. Midoryia started to scream through his tears as he frantically pushed and shoved Aizawa away. Making the process even harder. Finally, Aizawa heard the clicks of the belt unbuckling, with a swift pull Aizawa grabbed Izuku out of the seat and into his arms. The boy grasped onto Aizawa, his nails digging into the man's sides, and pressed his whole being into him.

"It's okay, it's okay. You are out. You are safe."

Aizawa rubbed Midoryia's back as the boy trembled and screamed out in fear into his chest. Those screams reminded Aizawa of Bakugou's night terror, the loud yells not being held back with any sense. It was the sound of not being safe, in being in harm's way. The boy holding onto him was scared beyond what any child should ever feel.

Aizawa held onto Izuku tighter and whispered sweet words into the boy's ears, reassuring Izuku that he was a good boy who was safe. Midoriya's screams turned into whimpers with an occasional whine. Meanwhile, Bakugou stayed still in his seat, wide-eyed at Midoryia's reaction in the car. It was clear the blonde was worried for his friend by the way he held onto the car seat tightly and kept his eyes on him.

"Midoryia's okay, he just got a little scared," Aizawa explained to Katsuki so the boy wouldn't get scared too.

Midoryia whimpered as Aizawa tried to free one of his hands to get Bakugou from his seat. Taking the risk, Aizawa removed one of his hands causing Midoryia to cry again. Quickly he pressed the red button and the one on Katsuki's chest so he could get out. Just as fast, Aizawa returned his hand to wrap around Midoryia but the boy shifted up, no longer clinging onto the man's chest the boy instead sat in the man's arm and rested his head on the man's shoulder, allowing for a tighter hug that put pressure on his chest and back.

"Bakugou, sweetheart. Can you get the ball and All Might? We are going back inside," Aizawa asked for help from the blonde who was staring up at him with shaky hands. Bakugou was nervous for Midoryia, not only from the panic of the moment but also from receiving comfort from the man.

Nevertheless, Bakugou was good and helped out, getting Midoryia's stuff and following behind Aizawa. The man waited till they were back inside to close the garage and lock the car, both with buttons, but even with the wall to divide them, the noise still made Midoryia whimper.

"You are safe." Aizawa repeated in the boy's ear, then he looked down at Bakugou who was tapping his foot anxiously, "Izuku is safe."

"Safe!" Bakugou said the word out loud, hoping to reach Midoryia's ears far above him. The green-haired boy nodded but still cried into Aizawa's shoulder with whines. The boy's cries were quieter as he calmed down but the uneasiness remained.

Aizawa stood there at the entrance of the house for a long while. Swaying back and forth he applied pressure to Midoryia in a deep hug. There, with the small child seeking comfort in his arms, Aizawa wished with that connection he could steal Midoryia's fear and place it into his own body. Midoryia held strong onto Aizawa, not slipping an inch since he clung to the man.

Bakugou was sitting behind Aizawa, just a few feet away just so he could be close to Izuku and within the boy's eyesight. Aizawa was turned away but could still keep an eye on the blonde from a mirror at the side of the entrance. Seeing Allmight in Bakugou's arms, Aizawa got an idea.

"Oh, what was that? Allmight the number one hero did you say something?" Aizawa turned around and talked to the Allmight plush on Bakugou's arms, the blonde giving a confused head tilt.

"Oh Izuku? Izuku Midoryia? The handsome boy in my arms? Yeah, he is such a brave boy!" Aizawa continued to talk to the plush, Midoryia turning in his arms to see what the man was talking about.

"Did you hear about what just happened? Let me tell you Allmight. Izuku was so brave. This boy is scared of the car but he did his best and got in one! All so he can make Katsuki happy. Isn't he a good boy?"

"But I got scare and didn't go! I'm not brave!" Izuku started to cry again.

"Did you try to go even though you were scared?" Aizawa asked Midoriya and the boy nodded.

"Tell Allmight, don't nod." Aizawa urged Midoryia on to his fake conversation.

"I I tried to go in the car but scare!" Midoryia yelled out and Bakugou held up the plush in the air so they could see it better.

"Wow! See! I told you he was brave! He went inside the car! Cars are scary for Izuku but he went in one! Isn't that cool? You'll keep trying, right Izuku? Maybe not today but some other day?"

Izuku whined but nodded, Aizawa knelt so they could be closer to the plush.

"If Izuku keeps being brave and trying, one day he won't be scared anymore! He won't be scared of anything just like you Allmight! Just like a pro-hero!" Aizawa kept exaggerating his voice, sounding more and more excited as the conversation went on.

"Allmight said that being brave means you keep trying, even if you are scared. Then one day you won't be scared anymore, right Allmight?" Aizawa questioned and Bakugou made the plush nod in his hands.

"You'll keep trying right Izuku? You'll be brave?" Aizawa asked and Midoryia wiped his tears away with his small fist.

"I'll be brave!" Izuku said out loud, raising his chin and putting on his best Allmight smile which was shaky.

"See Allmight? I told you he was brave! He's one of the bravest boys in the whole world!" Aizawa said and Midoryia smiled at the zealous compliment.

"Allmight is so proud of you for trying today!" Aizawa smiled at Midoryia and ruffled his green curls around playfully, at this the boy let out a small giggle and pushed the man's hand away.

"I'm proud of you too! It makes me happy I have such good boys in my house," Aizawa told Midoryia, catching Bakugou's eye at his last sentence. The man wasn't expecting the blonde to play along with the fake nodding.

Midoryia now near ground level, slid out of Aizawa's arms and walked up to Katsuki. The blonde gave the green-haired boy the Allmight plush and Midoryia squeezed it in a hug as a thank you for its encouragement. Aizawa was sure Izuku didn't mean to hold on to him for comfort when he got out of the car but the way the boy didn't let go even after calming down made him happy that he did provide some comfort even if it was just a one-time thing.

Chapter Text

Ding Dong

The doorbell caught everyone's attention, since the boys fell asleep in the middle of the documentary about Allmight, Aizawa decided to play it from the middle again. Aizawa got up from the armchair and answered the door and to his uneasiness, the same delivery girl from the other day was standing there.

"Nice to see you again Mister Aizawa! I got your order here!" The woman smiled sheepishly seeing the man's discomfort.

"Three times is a pattern, are you the only delivery person in the area?" Aizawa asked, grabbing the McDonald's bags from the woman.

"No there's a few others in this specific area. I work deliveries on multiple apps and I put myself to work a lot of hours. I plan on starting college during the fall and I'm working hard now so I don't have to work during school. I promise this is just a coincidence, I say yes to every delivery request I get. If you would like I won't accept deliveries from your house anymore!" The woman spoke fast in growing anxiety, grabbing her arm in a firm grasp nervously.

"No, it's fine. I'm glad to have a hard-working person handle my deliveries and you've been doing a good job so far. I'm sorry if I seem rude. Thank you for your service miss...," Aizawa apologized, but her answer provided some relief that she wasn't a stalker.

"You can call me Kei," The woman smiled and stood straight, offering her hand for a handshake. Aizawa shook her hand with a nod.

"Thanks again, maybe I'll see you again," Aizawa politely said goodbye to the woman.

"Looking forward to serving again. I hope your sons love the meal! I know some guys who worked in the McDonald's so they put extra toys in there free of charge! Bye!" Kei said quickly, waving at the boys who were staring from the living room.

"I appreciate it! I'll leave you a nice tip on the app!" Aizawa smiled at the sentiment and closed the door softly.

"Extra toys?!" Izuku hopped off the couch along with Bakugou. The two of them scampered to the kitchen as Aizawa sat down the food on the dining table.

"Yeah! But eat your food first then you can open the toys," Aizawa told them as they sat themselves down on the table.

Izuku was sitting on his seat, his right foot repeatedly stomping on the footrest under him while his hands gripped the table mat. Bakugou was also excited, staring wide-eyed at the McDonald's box, the classic red box with the smile but on one of the sides it showed multiple hero figurines they could get, Allmight being the rarest.

"There's Allmight! Endeavor! The Crimson Riot! So many hero toys can get!" Izuku said some of the heroes on the box, his eyes shining at the possibility of which toy he would get.

"Remember eat first," Aizawa said again setting down a divider plate in front of Midoryia and a regular plate in front of Bakugou.

"But don't eat too fast!" Aizawa warned looking specifically at the blonde, who grumbled in annoyance.

The man put the food on their plates, a main course of a cheeseburger, a side of fries, apple slices, and an apple juice box on the side.

"I got some extra chicken nuggets, for you two. Midoryia do you need another plate for it?" Aizawa questioned, taking out a 20-piece from the McDonald's bag. The green-haired boy nodded, not wanting to touch the whole box or overstock his first plate. Replying to the boy's request, Aizawa grabbed a smaller side plate and put down a couple of chicken nuggets on it.

"You good with your plate Bakugou?" Aizawa questioned the boy who grabbed the chicken nuggets to put on his plate, not caring that he was stacking food.

Seeing that Bakugou ignored his question, Aizawa assumed everything was fine and went back to handing out the food. The man got out the condiments next, taking out three Tangy BBQ sauces and opening it up to put it next to the boys' plates.

"Ketchup?" Aizawa asked Midoryia and the boy frowned.

"Can it be like this one?" Midoryia asked pointing to the BBQ sauce. Aizawa understood immediately that the boy wanted to dip it, not have it squeezed on his fries.

"Yeah I can do that," Aizawa told him, grabbing a dip bowl he had for soy sauce and instead putting the ketchup in there.

"Voila! Everything good?" Aizawa asked, not bothering with Bakugou's Ketchup because the boy was already opening the packet himself to pour onto his fries.

"Thank you, Mister Aizawa," Izuku clapped his hands as he stared at his carefully constructed plate a soft delighted squeal escaping his lips.

"Thanks Miser Aizawa," Bakugou said forgetting the T in mister as he spoke in a quick rushed sentence. The blonde swallowed as he began to drool anticipating the first bite of his first-ever happy meal.

It wasn't until Izuku took the first bite of cheeseburger that Katsuki began to hurriedly eat afterward. Aizawa thought back to the other meals, questioning whether Bakugou always waited for Izuku before or if this was just a coincidence. It wouldn't be surprising if the blonde felt better about eating if the green one ate first.

Bakugou's first bite of McDonald's was a chicken nugget dipped in their signature tangy BBQ sauce. His crimson eyes lit up as he chewed, putting the whole nugget in his mouth as he realized how delicious it was.

"Mmm!" Bakugou couldn't help but express how yummy he thought the food was. Both his fists softly pressed against his chest as he closed his eyes and swayed from side to side. Aizawa couldn't help but chuckle at the new stim the food inspired Bakugou to show for the first time here.

Katsuki stopped moving the instant he heard Aizawa chuckle, opening his eyes and putting his hands down. There was a sadness to replace the joy that was in his eyes moments ago. Bakugou muttered an apology under his breath as he straightened himself out to continue eating his food.

"Quiet hands?" Izuku questioned as he stopped the tapping he was doing with his fingers on the table. His hands instinctively stopped what they were doing and pulled back to rest on his lap.

"No, no quiet hands. I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable, I didn't mean to make you self-conscious Bakugou. Please enjoy the food," Aizawa apologized immediately, taking a note not to chuckle when they stim.

"Auntie always made us play that game. I don't like it," Izuku continued his tapping on the table as he continued taking small bites of his cheeseburger. Bakugou moved from the nuggets and instead grabbed some fries, the light returning to his eyes as he bit into it, still, he restrained to stim again.

"It was a game?" Aizawa asked.

"Yeah. Auntie gets mad if I don't play good. Bakugou teach me how to play, it like red light game. But with hits, it hurt. I think Auntie was mean but she said we looked stupid and she doesn't want anyone saying stupid to us," Izuku told Aizawa with a distant look in his eyes as he remembered the beginning months of staying with his Auntie.

"Oh." Was all Aizawa could muster up to say, the anger rose to his chest but he let it stay there. Not wanting to frighten the kids with his angry eyes again.

"Do you like the food?" Aizawa decided to ask to kick out the negative thoughts in Midoryia's mind.

"Yeah!" Izuku took another bite of his cheeseburger, the light returning to his eyes as he looked back at Katsuki who took a bite of his own burger. For once the blonde was savoring his food with calm slow bites.

Aizawa took out his food from another McDonald's bag, a spicy Mcchicken, his favorite order from the fast food company. However, as soon as he unwrapped it a pair of crimson eyes set its sights curiously on his plate.

"Orange burger?" Katsuki questioned softly, not sure if he was allowed to speak just like Izuku did.

"It's a spicy chicken sandwich. Do you know what spicy is?" Aizawa questioned the boy and he shook his head no.

"It burns a little bit. Do you want to try a small bite?" Aizawa asked even though he was sure the kid wouldn't like it since most kids hated spicy things at their age. Still, Bakugou nodded, being brave enough to try something new.

Aizawa tore off a little piece with his fingers, handing it to Bakugou who grabbed it with hesitation. The boy sniffed it at first, his nose scrunching at the new smell of spice. Then he popped the tiny piece in his mouth, his face cringing at the new sensation. A soft sss sound left his mouth as the burning invaded the boy's taste buds.

"Spit it out if you don't like it," Aizawa told the boy as he softly sucked in air in an attempt to cool his mouth, but Bakugou shook his head no. Bakugou looked up at Aizawa, his eyes shining like stars as he put his hand up to his mouth. The boy patted his mouth softly and nodded.

"You liked it?" Aizawa questioned in surprise as Bakugou looked up at him, the boy's usual indifferent expression gone and replaced with a soft pout with puppy dog eyes.

"Yummy!" Bakugou told the man, his eyes piercing through the sandwich in Aizawa's hand. The man smiled wide, keeping the small laugh in his chest so he wouldn't make the boy self-conscious again.

"You want to trade?"Aizwa asked and the boy nodded, his hands making fists in his chest.

Aizawa switched his spicy sandwich for Bakugou's cheeseburger. The boy instantly took huge bites once he secured the sandwich in his grasp. Izuku looked on as he ate his burger, tiny bites encircled the bun, and he was eating in a circle pattern.

"Drink juice so the burn goes away," Aizawa told the blonde who was sucking in the air more harshly as the hotness exceeded. Bakugou listened taking a swig of his juice but immediately taking another bite.

It took everything for Aizawa to put on a straight face, he found it funny the way the boy was pushing himself to eat the spicy sandwich. Discreetly Aizawa took out his phone and took a short video of Bakugou taking a bite and huffing at spicy overtaking his mouth, quickly the boy drank his juice but took another bite afterwards. Ending the recording, Aizawa instinctively nearly sent it to Hizashi but caught himself, instead, he sent it to Taishiro.

The happy meal worked as planned, the boys happily eating their meal with smiles pairing the boxes. The man found the cheeseburger small but it was worth it to see Bakugou experience something new and enjoy it. This moment with the blonde was something Aizawa cherished most about raising children. The moment when they try and discover something new about themselves that they love. Bakugou unlocked a new tidbit about himself, that he liked spicy food or at the very least that specific spicy chicken sandwich. The man always found children's psychology interesting, learning how people grow and find themselves through small moments like these. In another life, he thought about being a counselor, or even a teacher.

"Can we open the toys now?" Izuku asked when he finished the last bite of his fries. Bakugou had already finished a while ago but waited patiently, playing with the textured food mats again.

"Yeah let's see which heroes you guys got!" Aizawa said excitedly as he pushed their respective boxes closer to them so they could pull out their mystery gift.

The boys hurriedly grabbed the box and pulled out a small white plastic bag, no markings to keep the hero a mystery. They pulled on the plastic, using their teeth to pull apart the plastic.

"Allmight!" They yelled out in unison as they pulled out tiny Allmight figures from the bag.

After a second of bewildered faces, they both squealed in excitement of getting their favorite hero. Midoryia held the tiny figure close to his chest and smiled wide, tears at the side of his eyes in overwhelming excitement. Bakugou also had a wide open-mouthed smile, instead standing in his seat to proudly show off the Allmight figure in the air. Shamelessly Aizawa took out his phone to take another picture, their faces being too cute not to share with his colleague.

"Kacchan! Allmight! Allmight!" Izuku shook his fists up and down, the Allmight figure in hand.

"Allmight!" Bakugou mimicked back, practically shoving the figure into Midoryia's face.

The boys were visually vibrating as they showed each other their Allmights. Izuku spouted out facts about the hero while Bakugou nodded rapidly with every word the boy said. They were so consumed in the excitement they forgot that there were extra toys in the boxes.

Aizawa was distracted from their energy when a call rang from his phone. Anxiety went through the man's body as he questioned if he sent the pictures to the wrong person. A wave of relief fell over him as he read the name on the screen. Taishiro Toyomitsu.

"Hello?" Aizawa questioned.

"Hey, buddy! Cute pics! I'm glad the boys are coming out of their shells. Since you're good at this kind of stuff I was wondering if you could bless me with some of your knowledge?!" Taishiro sounded cheery as always but there was still a hint of concern in his voice.

"What are you having trouble with?"

"Umm, my boy here is a bit picky with his food. I think he gets anxious whenever I offer him something to eat, saying his dad has him on a specific diet."

"Does he have allergies or medical-"

"No. That's not it. I checked his records and he's totally fine."

"Has he eaten anything?" Aizawa asked concerned for the health of the boy.

"So far he will only eat cold soba, his favorite food. The only food he can't turn down."

"That is concerning. I can call Tsukauchi to look into it. He might be able to contact someone to get specific meals he has eaten before."

"Wait. I'm not supposed to mention anything so you might get in trouble asking for me. I'll make the call myself. Thanks for the idea Shouta."

"How's the kid's eye?" Aizawa asked walking away from his own boys to the living room.

"Not any worse? I think it's healing nicely but it will definitely leave a scar."

"You did your best."

"I know. But the scar isn't exactly from the initial burn I think, it looks like someone tried to put ice on it."

"Oh, then it really isn't your fault."

"I know." Taishiro sounded sad. "One more thing. I was wondering if maybe. If your kids would be fine with it. They'll like to come over for a play date later? I tried taking Shoto outside to play but he didn't really know how to. He literally asked me if the playground was some sort of training exercise. Before you say anything, I already reported it."

"Sounds like he's being conditioned," Aizawa lowered his voice to hide the hostility in his tone.

"Like I said. I reported it."

"I know I sent you some happy pictures right now but my boys had a rough day today. How about tomorrow? They can play in the morning before the hottest part of the day."

"Sounds good to me. Thanks for the advice," Taishiro bid farewell as he hung up the phone.

Aizawa looked back towards the dining table where the boys were opening the other two mystery figures. Midoryia had opened an Endeavor figure while Bakugou got the upcoming hero Midnight.

Aizawa paused as he saw the dark purple hair and sky-blue eyes. The man recognized his classmate from UA from the better half of a decade ago, back when he was training to become a pro-hero. After getting his license and starting work studies, he quit that life after a certain accident. Instead, he studied to become a therapist for children who underwent severe trauma but that wasn't enough, so he became a foster to deal with the child directly. In that way, taking care of children made him feel closer to a certain someone who lost their life-saving children.

Aizawa shook the memories from his head and instead went back to the table. Izuku smiled at the man and held up the number two hero, rambling facts he knew about Endeavor. Bakugou was playing with the figures on the table as Izuku rambled, apparently, Midnight and Allmight weren't friendly. It's not like they could make villain toys.

Chapter Text

"Hey guys, go play in the living room okay? I need to use the restroom for a minute," Aizawa encouraged the boys to move their play to the living room instead of the dining table. 

Midoryia quickly jumped off his chair, eager to get his counting around the living room rug out of the way. Bakugou was calmer getting to the living room, Midoryia counting his steps by the time the boy arrived. 

"Don't be bad while I'm gone, okay?" Aizawa asked as he passed them to head to the hallway. 

Aizawa's restroom trip didn't take long, but apparently, it was long enough for the kids in the other room to get rowdy. The man didn't mind it though because he could hear them laughing and playing around and to a caregiver that was enough to make sure the kids were at least alive while he's in a restroom. 

Aizawa walked to the living room and paused at the entrance to the hallway observing the boys' play. With Katsuki's back turned to him, Aizawa realized the boys were playing less abstractly than the first day they got here. Katsuki and Izuku were actually playing with the pro-hero figures in a type of story. There are two Allmights, and Endeavor is a zombie. 

"Zombies! Arggh!" Bakugou moved the Endeavor toy to chase Izuku's Allmight. 

"Oh no! Got to get away! He's after Allmight's brains!" Midoryia quickly made his Allmight run away and squealed as Bakugou got up to chase him. 

"Go Allmight!" Katsuki giggled as he chased Izuku with the zombie Endeavor, his own Allmight figure chasing behind to save Izuku's Allmight. 

"Running super super fast!" Midoriya burst out in giggles as Bakugou chased him around the coffee table. Katsuki growled like a zombie as he caught up to Midoryia and pushed the Endeavor figure to his back. 

"Eeeeek!" Izuku squealed loudly as the thrill of the chase overfilled his chest. Unfortunately, the surprise made him skid and fall to the floor. Bakugou let out a small laugh and growled louder, towering the zombified Endeavor over Midoryia. 

"You got me!" Midoryia burst out into a fit of giggles as Katsuki pushed him down and made loud fake biting sounds, the Endeavor figure making Midoryia laugh louder with every soft jab Bakugou made to the boy. Midoryia let go of the toys in his hands, opting to protect himself from Katsuki's tickle attack by trying to dodge and rolling around. It reached the point where Izuku was squealing so loud that Katsuki cringed at the sound but the boy pushed on with a smile, each jab an expertly crafted move to make his friend laugh so hard to the point Izuku was gasping trying to catch his breath. 

Aizawa stepped out of the dark hallway and into the light, a smile on his face as he watched the boys play more freely than they did before. Katsuki was laughing and being himself, something Aizawa hadn't seen the boy do in such an expressive way. 

That all changed when Katsuki caught sight of the man, the boy's wide smile vanished along with his excitement. Midoryia stopped giggling when Bakugou pulled back and sat on the floor, turning the once loud room eerily quiet. 

"What wrong Kacchan? Something wrong?" Izuku spoke up, sitting up from the floor where he was giggling seconds ago. 

Katsuki looked directly into Aizawa's eyes, trying to read the man's face but found it difficult. There were no eyes of hostility or furrowed brows of annoyance, nothing to remind him of his mother but still, the boy was nervous. Midoryia followed Bakugou's gaze to Aizawa and understood why Katsuki went quiet. 

"Not mad right? Not mad if loud?" Midoryia called out to Aizawa, Katsuki straightening up at the green-haired boy's bold questioning. 

"Shh!" Katsuki quickly shushed the boy, his eyes widening in worry. The blonde was afraid that even asking that question could get them in trouble. Midoryia's smile faltered as he saw Katsuki's reservation, thinking maybe Aizawa didn't like their rowdy play. Midoryia's tiny hands found his way up to his chest in fists, nervously awaiting the man's answer. 

"I'm not mad, I'm very happy you guys are having fun! Please keep playing okay?" Aizawa smiled and handed Izuku the Allmight figure that flew out of his arms during the fall earlier. 

Izuku's eyes lit up at the encouragement to play, grabbing the figure from the man and flapping his arms up and down as he returned to Katsuki. But unlike Midoryia, Bakugou didn't know if the man's words were sincere. Afraid of a false face, Bakugou made his choice to continue to be silent. 

"Kacchan! Be the bad zombie again!" Midoryia rocked on his heels, ready to run away from Bakugou's grasp again but Bakugou shook his head no. 

Aizawa chose to use a bold move. If he was right it might lead to a positive reaction from the blonde but if not, at least it would show that he wasn't displeased by their loud play. Taking a deep breath Aizawa made sure to smile before picking up the forgotten Midnight figure and growling like a zombie. 

"Oh no, guys! Midnight is a zombie too! She's coming after you!" Aizawa made fake zombie sounds while slowly walking toward the boys, creating tension. 

"Eeeekkk! Kacchan help!" Midoryia ran from Aizawa and behind Bakugou, clutching the back of the blonde's shirt as he tried to pull him to safety but Katsuki stiffened up. 

"Come on Kacchan!" Midoryia pulled on the shirt again but Katsuki held still. Bakugou sat on the floor, turning away from both Izuku and Aizawa. Instead, the boy decided to chew on his crystal, the boy was nervous and was soothed by the familiar feeling. 

Aizawa's attempt to join their play failed. Katsuki was not ready to play loudly in front of Aizawa, much less play with the man he still considered untrustworthy. In his failure, Aizawa didn't let the sting of rejection hurt him but instead treated it as a test and thought about the results. 

Izuku at the very least showed a willingness to include Aizawa in their playtime, indicating that the green one's trust has increased in the man. Katsuki is still struggling to be comfortable with him and may need more time and gentler approaches. Aizawa figured maybe interjecting himself in their play was too overwhelming for the boy who was on guard from his anxiety. The boys have different comfort levels and he should pace his interactions better and differently accordingly. 

"Katsuki sweetheart," Aizawa kneeled next to the boy, "I'm sorry for interrupting. Please play with Izuku again. I won't be mad if you're loud okay? I want you to have fun. I'm going to clean the kitchen. Continue playing, be as loud as you want." 

"See! We can play loud! Let's play zombie again!" Izuku grabbed Katsuki's shoulder and tried to pull him up but Bakugou was staring holes into Aizawa's back as the man walked away. 

"No loud," Bakugou calmly told Izuku, the blonde's heart was beating fast as anxiety played around in his chest. 

"But not mad. Aizawa not mad. He will not mad like Auntie. He, he is. He is. He is nice." Izuku struggled  in the end, repeating himself but ultimately chose the word nice to describe the man. 

"No, stupid. Will mad like mom," Bakugou spoke in hush tones but Aizawa heard the whole conversation despite it. 

"But we were having so much fun," Izuku sat down next to Katsuki, sad that they didn't get to continue. The excess energy Bakugou riled up in Midoryia found an escape by the boy quickly wiggling his toes and tapping his collarbone. 

Aizawa paused in the middle of the transition from carpet to tile, caught between the line of kitchen and living room Aizawa gave way to a thought that might help Katsuki play more freely. The man always believed in talking honestly with the children so he decided to face Katsuki's problem head on. 

"Bakugou, can we talk for a second?" Aizawa asked as he returned to the boy. Immediately the blonde's heart was racing again and Aizawa could see the boy's breathing getting fast. 

"Trouble?" Katsuki asked straight away, Midoriya's straightening up with just the implication. The thought of getting Aizawa's nice nature wrong flashed in Midoriya's eyes. 

"You are not in trouble," Aizawa reassured immediately, calming them down at least a tad. 

"I know you are scared of me getting mad because you two get loud when playing. Katsuki, I'm not going to get mad okay?" 

Aizawa confronted Katsuki's fear head on but Bakugou just let out a defeated whine as the boy became overwhelmed with anxiety. The chew in the boy's mouth became so clenched that the man was sure Bakugou was going to bite it clean in half but the crystal held strong against the boy's bite. 

"Nu-No mad?" Katsuki stuttered the word no but bravely looked back into Aizawa's eyes. 

"See! See! Told you he not mad!" Izuku said excitedly as his intuition was proven right, which was rare for the kid. 

"I promise I won't get mad, okay?" Aizawa said, holding up his pinky for the highly valued pinky promise. 

Katsuki stared at the man's hand for a second, then looked back into Aizawa's face. The boy tried so hard to look for a sign of dishonesty, to see a quiver in the man's sincere smile but found none. Shakily Bakugou lifted his own pinkie to hook onto Aizawa's, accepting the pact. 

"No mad!" Izuku eagerly hooked his pinky as well after Bakugou did, taking the promise at full face value immediately. Katsuki however still had an unsure face on, his tender heart reminding him never to let his guard down. 

"You're still scared huh?" Aizawa didn't shy away from pointing out Bakugou's uneasiness. Katsuki didn't say anything but held back a whine from his throat. 

"How about this, I'll put on some music and if I can still hear it, you're not being too loud. Does that sound like a good idea?" Aizawa asked and there was a slight pause as Bakugou thought about it, after a second of consideration the boy returned his eyes to Aizawa's and nodded. For some reason, Katsuki looked defeated. It confused Aizawa but he was happy that Katsuki agreed to the plan. 

"Play music?" Izuku asked, curiosity in his eyes as Aizawa grabbed his phone from the coffee table. 

"Yeah! It will make Katsuki feel like playing again. As long as I can hear the music, you guys aren't being too loud." 

Aizawa turned on some children's music instrumentals, lyrics would be too distracting for their imaginative play but children's music would be upbeat and familiar. The volume was high in volume but not overwhelming to discourage Katsuki's and Izuku's conversations during play. Aizawa sat the phone down on the coffee table and nodded to Bakugou who returned the nod. 

"I am going to clean okay? I want you to have fun." Aizawa encouraged Katsuki directly before heading to the kitchen to clean up after them. 

"Kacchan! Can you be Zombie again?" Midoryia asked, immediately giving in to the energetic music. Aizawa could hear Izuku humming along to the familiar tunes as he waited for Bakugou to answer. 

Aizawa didn't stare at the boys figuring it would make Katsuki more uncomfortable but he kept an ear out along with occasional glances. At first, the play was small, Katsuki picked back up his toy Allmight but stayed on the floor, occasionally glancing back at the man. Izuku accommodated by playing on the floor with Katsuki, not overbearing to play the zombie game again. Eventually though, in their imaginative play, Katsuki got his groove back and started to talk louder and more enthusiastically, till eventually they were up and running around again. That seemed to be Izuku's favorite part because every time Katsuki got closer he would let out a high-pitched squeal. 

Katsuki paused as he cringed at Izuku's loudness, but then set his sights on Aizawa. Wondering if he got too caught up and broke the rule the man had just set by being loud again. Aizawa saw the boy pause in his peripheral vision and continue what he was doing, wiping the table. To ease Katsuki's mind Aizawa started to hum loudly along with the music and move his hands to the beat so the boy knew he wasn't phased and could still hear the music. 

This worked because, after a couple of seconds, Katsuki was back to playing with Izuku again. From what the man heard, Midnight wasn't bitten and needed to help the Allmights make it to a lab? For a cure? Maybe since Izuku was bitten earlier? Aizawa didn't know the plot but it was surely an excuse from Midoryia to run around more. All in all, the music idea was a success to get Katsuki to play again in the man's presence. 

Aizawa made a mental note to write down the idea for the next foster, as soon as he got his phone back.

Chapter Text

Something happened. Aizawa isn't sure what triggered it but Katsuki is currently crying in the corner of the living room. One second he was happily playing make-believe with Izuku on the living room floor the next he was in the corner chewing on his silicone crystal. Aizawa rushed over, turning off the music to better hear the boys. 

"Katsuki, what happened?" Aizawa asked the boy who didn't respond, Bakugou was facing the wall with his arms wrapped around his knees. 

"Kacchan? Was I mean again?" Izuku was behind Aizawa, unsure if he did something to make Bakugou sad again. 

"Katsuki?" Aizawa asked louder just in case the boy couldn't hear his soft tone. Still, Bakugou didn't turn, Aizawa walked closer to check on the boy his shadow briefly going over the boy. To this Bakugou was startled, looking back at the man with tears in his eyes. 

"What happened?" Aizawa asked but Bakugou just whimpered again. 

"Kacchan? Kacchan is hurt? Did something hurt?" Izuku raised his voice and walked closer to Katsuki. 

"Are you hurt?" Aizawa asked with raising concern, he was keeping an eye on the boys while he finished cleaning the kitchen but something might have happened between glances. 

"Need dad," Bakugou voiced out but streaks of tears came with it.

"Uncle? Still gone! Auntie too," Izuku talked to Bakugou, his hands together as he rocked on his tiptoes nervously. 

"Need dad," The blonde cried again looking up at Aizawa who didn't know what to say. Katsuki knew of his parent's fate but possibly didn't know of the permanence of death. 

"Kats-" Aizawa was cut off when Bakugou started to cry more. 

"Can't," Bakugou whined, Izuku stopped fidgeting for a moment as he realized what his friend meant immediately. 

"Can't?! But but Uncle is not here!" Izuku started to talk even louder, challenging Aizawa's ears. 

"Can't what? What does that mean?" Aizawa questioned the boys, kneeling to get to their level. 

"Kacchan can't hear!" Izuku told the man, his eyes frantic as he shook his hands around nervously. 

"Bakugou you can't hear?" Aizawa asked the blonde who looked back at him with confused teary eyes. 

"Uncle is not here! When he here? Kacchan can't hear till Uncle comes back!" Izuku started to cry as he talked, his eyes shining with tears. Midoryia's movements became frantic as he paced around, thinking of a way to help but finding none. 

"Deku?" Bakugou questioned his friend's behavior. The blonde's breath became deeper as he looked wide-eyed up at the man. It was clear that Izuku's panic was making the boy even more anxious about the unknown things being said. 

"Izuku, darling. It's okay I can help, don't cry. You're making Bakugou worry," Aizawa patted Izuku's green hair, showing Katsuki that he wasn't being aggressive. 

"You know to help Kacchan?" Midoryia asked as he wiped the remaining tears threatening to spill from his eyes. 

"Bakugou, let me see your hearing aids," Aizawa motioned his hands to his ears and placed out his hand to retrieve them, Katsuki couldn't read lips but recognized the command. 

Bakugou turned around fully and wiped the remaining tears from his eyes. Sniffling the boy took out his hearing aids and handed them to Aizawa. The man took a look at his hearing aids and walked to the counter in the kitchen disassembling it for a second to take out the empty battery. In his kitchen drawer, he pulled out two replacement batteries from a fresh pack. Luckily for the boys, Aizawa was very good at his job, the second he saw Bakugou's hearing aids, batteries were the first thing on his grocery list. Luckily Tsukauchi provided some medical records that held the type of hearing aid Bakugou was using and its battery type. 

It took a couple of minutes to properly clean the aid and change the battery. The way Bakugou was slowly getting closer told Aizawa the blonde was nervous. Izuku on the other hand was rambling very loudly behind Katsuki, telling his friend that it was okay. Bakugou heard some of what Izuku was telling him not being completely deaf but caught on when he saw Aizawa replacing the batteries. 

"Come here," Aizawa motioned Bakugou over with his hands and the boy quickly ran to him, hesitancy gone. The man leads the boy to the bathroom, taking out a case from behind the mirror. 

Bakugou reached for his hearing aids as the man wasn't looking but Aizawa shook his head no. To this Bakugou frowned, his eyes darkening as nerves grew. The man pointed to his ear and motioned him forward again, the blonde just tilted his head, not knowing what to do. 

"I need to clean your ears," Aizawa mouthed despite not being sure if the boy could read lips. Still, he opened the plastic case and pulled out some Q-tips.

Kneeling again, Aizawa slowly went to gently hold Bakugou's head. To this, the blonde took a couple of steps back and gave the man a sneer. Izuku was behind him, not crossing the doorway of the bathroom. 

"What doing?" Izuku questioned. 

"I need to clean his ears so his hearing aids won't be dirty," Aizawa explained as he cleaned the wax from Bakugou's hearing aids. The blonde looked on in confusion as the man messed with the device. 

"Ears get dirty?" Izuku sounded distressed and he immediately scratched at his right ear with his tiny fingers. 

"Don't do that, you'll hurt yourself. Let me clean your ears so Katsuki knows it's safe." Aizawa beckoned Izuku closer, throwing away the dirty Q-tip and grabbing a new one. 

"It hurt?" Izuku questioned and Aizawa shook his head no. 

"It will feel funny but won't hurt," Aizawa reassured and Izuku nodded walking next to the man. 

Izuku tilted his head up and Aizawa softly grabbed his face, positioning it. Bakugou looked on his face confused about why Midoryia was being so obedient. Slowly Aizawa cleaned Midoryia's ears, the boy instantly flinched at the new sensation. 

"Tickles!" Izuku let out a giggle and shook his head from left to right rapidly. 

"I know but try not to move okay? Or it might hurt," Aizawa explained softly as he softly cleaned the boy's ear again. 

"Now the other one," Aizawa said as he threw away the dirty Q-tip. Midoryia nodded and twirled around so Aizawa could clean his other ear. 

"All done!" Aizawa exclaimed with a smile. 

"All clean?" Midoryia asked as Aizawa. 

"All clean, good job on not moving buddy," Aizawa praised and Midoryia's eyes shined. 

"It's hard because it tickled! But I did not move!" Izuku spoke out about the situation with a wide smile. 

"Very good! Do you think you can get Katsuki to come over?" Aizawa asked for help from the kid, knowing it was his best shot. Bakugou was still looking on a bit confused but Midoryia grabbed his arm and pulled it with a smile.

"Come on, Kacchan. Aizawa is safe," Midoryia urged on unknowingly softening the man's heart with his words. 

After a couple more tugs Bakugou let Midoryia walk him to Aizawa. The blonde's sneer was replaced with worried eyes and a wary expression. With Izuku holding Bakugou's hand the blonde furrowed his eyebrows before closing his eyes. 

Gently Aizawa reached out and grabbed Katsuki's chin, the boy jumped at the contact. Nevertheless, the boy held bravely still as Aizawa tilted the boy's head to the side to clean his ear. The instant the Q-tip tickled Bakugou's ear, the boy's eyes shot open and he shook his head at the funny feeling. Bakugou looked at Izuku for reassurance but the boy just giggled at the reaction. 

"It's okay, let's try again," Aizawa said loudly and Bakugou seemed to understand because he closed his eyes and tilted his head. Softly Aizawa touched the boy's head again to get a better grip in cleaning his ears. While he was at it he checked behind and around his ear for irritation due to his hearing aids but thankfully didn't find anything. 

Bakugou let his ears get cleaned but Aizawa found the results concerning. Unlike Midoryia's healthy yellow ear wax, Bakugou's was strangely dark and black. Aizawa made a quick note in his phone for the next foster to take him to the doctor for a check-up, not only because of the ear wax but to make sure his hearing was where it was supposed to be. Aizawa handed Bakugou his hearing aids and the boy comfortably placed them back on. 

"Is that better?" Aizawa asked and the blonde's eyes shined. 

"Can hear!" Bakugou said excitedly and looked back at Izuku. 

"Kacchan can hear again! Kacchan! Ears feel funny when cleaning right? Don't look in trash it gross" Izuku excited to be heard again spouted off. Bakugou however looked up at Aizawa, questions clearly in his mind. 

"What is it Katsuki?" Aizawa asked softly, returning to his nurturing tone now that the boy could hear again. 

"You can fix?" Bakugou asked tapping his hearing aids. 

"Yes! Your dad and mom fixed it and I can too. It just needed batteries," Aizawa explained but the boy shook his head no. 

"Dad fix it. Mom not know... Scary!" 

"Scary?" Aizawa asked and Izuku quieted down, hearing the conversation turn serious. 

"No hear scary." 

"I understand, but I fixed it," Aizawa reassured. 

"Uncle is only one who can fix it. Kacchan said it is scare because one time Uncle left for a long time and his hearing broke for long time. Auntie got mad a lot. For long time I talk all by myself" Izuku put forth his own thoughts which again enraged Aizawa. It was a simple task to change the boy's hearing aid batteries, it was clearly a lazy choice to refuse to. 

"Thought never hear again," Bakugou pouted as the words left his mouth. 

"Never? But Uncle and Auntie will come soon. It not never. Just a little bit of time. No more scare okay? Mister Aizawa know how fix! It okay!" Izuku calmly reassured the blonde but it just made Bakugou sadder because he knew the truth. 

"I'm sorry," Katsuki told Aizawa and the man was confused. 

"Why are you sorry?" 

"Feel bad."

"Why do you feel bad?" Aizawa asked as the boy looked away. 

"Dad do not fix, again." Katsuki's lip quivered but the boy didn't cry, instead, he looked angry at himself but filled with grief. 

"I'm sorry Katsuki. Your dad won't change your batteries anymore, but I'll help you now okay?" Aizawa said sadly, Midoryia was confused but stayed silent as he watched Katsuki try to not cry. Bakugou was trembling as he tried his best not to cry, but the grief of knowing his dad won't ever help him again made it impossible to hold back the tears. The boy's shoulders were tense as he held his breath as a last resort to stop his emotions from showing. 

"Katsuki sweetheart, it's okay." Aizawa slowly reached his hand over to see if Bakugou would accept a comforting hand on his shoulder but the blonde retaliated with a sharp smack. 

Bakugou sneered at the man, his eyebrows furrowed as he held back tears. The sudden hostility surprised Aizawa but he held calm, not wanting to frighten the boys. Izuku let out a short gasp of disbelief as he heard the loud smack, his face grimacing in worry. Aizawa was taken aback but he knew that Katsuki's feelings were rational, he felt weak for needing help in the first place and he felt like he betrayed his dad by letting Aizawa fix his hearing aids. The boy was just frustrated and guilt-ridden, big emotions for such a young boy. 

"Kacchan! Aizawa helps! Why mean? Stop!" Izuku raised his voice to his friend, although he took a step back from both of them. Izuku looked on, not sure if Aizawa would respond to the smack harshly. Bakugou's sudden anger vanished as the weight of what he did fell on him. The blonde's eyes widened as he expected the man's retaliation, instinctively Katsuki put his hand over his head to protect himself. 

"That was not nice Bakugou, that hurt," Aizawa frowned and rubbed his hand, it didn't hurt at all really but he wanted to make sure Katsuki understood what he did caused harm. 

Katsuki was taken back from the calm reaction and the guilt in his body doubled. Still, the boy held off from apologizing, instead, he walked away, grabbing Izuku's hand and leaving Aizawa by himself. 

"Bakugou," Aizawa called out his name and the blonde paused outside the door. 

"I'm sorry your dad can't change your batteries anymore. I'm here to help. I forgive you for hitting me but let's not fight anymore okay?" Aizawa said. Katsuki let out a huff, not turning to look at the man. Izuku however was staring at Aizawa, anxious about what transpired.

Katsuki's shoulders tensed as he straightened up, he didn't turn around but nodded, showing that he heard Aizawa. Bakugou walked away putting his chew back in his mouth, not wanting to face the man or speak.

Chapter Text

After the incident in the bathroom, Bakugou seemed to have made a point to stop his pretend play and instead opted to color on the coffee table. Midoryia loudly protested for a good couple of minutes, wanting to go back to playing zombie superheroes with Katsuki. The blonde didn't budge, rolling a marker to Izuku so he could draw too. To this, Izuku pouted, accepting the situation and helped Bakugou with his drawings.

Every couple of seconds the blonde would look back at the man, catching Aizawa's eye and retreating to his drawing after a second. After the twelfth time, Aizawa walked over to see what it was about. The man always had a quiet pace in his steps so when Katsuki turned to look at the man again, the blonde jumped up surprised to see the man close to him. Bakugou's eyes widened as the man kneeled next to him and despite his heart racing the boy kept his eye contact.

"I saw you staring at me Katsuki.  I'm not mad at you. Are you still mad at me?" As always Aizawa was straightforward.

Midoriya stopped his drawing and fidgeted nervously as he stared at the scene before him. Bakugou didn't answer, but his wide eyes relaxed as he let out an angry huff. As Bakugou saw it, if Aizawa wasn't angry, he could afford to show a little dislike towards the man. And that's exactly what he did, the blonde crossed his arms and turned away from Aizawa, shunning him. Midoryia wanted to tell Bakugou to be nice but before he could the man, let out an amused huff.

"Alright I get it," Aizawa told Bakugou, getting up from his knees.

Bakugou quickly turned around, seemingly shocked to have gotten away with the rude behavior. Before the man could completely walk away Bakugou made an "Ah" sound to get the man's attention. Despite the lack of proper communication Aizawa heard the sound and took it as a sign to turn back around. There he found Katsuki fidgeting with his hands nervously, looking down at the floor.

"What is it?" Aizawa asked and Bakugou twirled his fingers before grabbing the All Might figure he got from the McDonald's meal. With two hands the blonde lifted it to the man and Aizawa grabbed it, an eyebrow lifted in curiosity.

"Going to play? Play with Zawa?" Midoryia chirped into the conversation, seeing the interaction go friendly.

"It's Aizawa darling. Not Zawa." Aizawa corrected the boy but then turned his attention back to Katsuki. The blonde was staring holes into his eyes as the man received the figure.

"You want to play with me?" Aizawa asked, admittedly showing a little enthusiasm for the idea.

Except Bakugou shook his head no and pushed the figure into the man's arm with a small amount of force. Confused Aizawa opened his mouth to question it but Katsuki did the same action as a couple moments ago, turning his back and shunning the man.

"Okay..." Aizawa said unsure of what to make of it. It was clear that the boy didn't want to play or interact right now so the man left and pocketed the item.

The boys went back to drawing after that, Midoryia trying to talk to Katsuki about the scene but Bakugou seemed to have chosen to not speak for the moment. Ignoring the green-haired boy and silencing him with an angry huff. Since they were enjoying their drawing time with the music on the man's phone, Aizawa went to retrieve his laptop from his room. The man figured it was about time to make that report on their being.

Aizawa returned to a troubling scene, Katsuki was holding onto Midoryia's face with a marker at hand. The green-haired boy giggled as Bakugou drew soft lines on his face and colored in his nose. In just the short time Aizawa was gone, the blonde had drawn cat whiskers on Izuku's face along with a nose.

"Bakugou!" Aizawa scolded.

The blonde let the marker fall to the ground as he turned around to face the man. There was a little bit of fear in his eyes but of course, he held up his straight face, the only sign of anxiety being in his curled-up fists on his sides.

"I'm sorry!" Midoryia cried out behind the blonde, trying to rub the marker off his face but it had already bonded to his skin.

"Bakugou, I know, you know, that is not good behavior. Get a wipe and help Midoryia get it off." Aizawa used a stern voice but didn't approach the blonde. The man didn't want to risk their fear of physical abuse by getting close.

Katsuki saw that Aizawa wasn't getting closer to hit him over the head and decided to push the man's buttons further. With a deliberate glare to mask his fear, the blonde shook his head 'no' to the command. Aizawa was taken back from the clear disobedience, up until now they both had shown to be good listeners.

"Why are you misbehaving? Is there something wrong?" Aizawa asked with a soft voice and once again the blonde was taken aback by the calm reaction.

"Kacchan, you going to make him mad," Midoryia spoke up in a hushed tone, grabbing his friend's shirt to try to make him stand down.

"I'm not mad but this is bad behavior. I thought you two were good boys." The man put on his disappointed voice and instead of getting the desired reaction from Katsuki, it was Izuku who got wound up by his words.

"We are good! Come on Kacchan! Help me with face!" Midoryia pulled on Katsuki's shirt in the direction of some wet hand wipes on the side table. Before breaking eye contact with Aizawa the blonde let out an annoyed click of the tongue. Still with Midoryia dragging him, Bakugou helps the green-haired boy wipe the marker off his face. There was a faint outline of whiskers but Aizawa decided not to tell Izuku, fearing an outburst about being dirty.

After the clean-up, Aizawa kept a close eye on Bakugou from the couch, looking up from his report more often now that he was misbehaving. Bakugou kept looking back at Aizawa, annoyed until eventually decided to sit next to Izuku on the other side of the coffee table. Aizawa felt a little hurt at the action feeling like he lost some progress but let it go.

Bakugou bumped his shoulder with Midoryia, catching the boy's attention. Izuku looked up from his drawing to see what his friend needed and there Aizawa saw the blonde motion his fingers like a pair of scissors and making two clips with his fingers. It could've been a coincidence but Aizawa recognized the sign language for scissors.

"I do not have," Izuku said looking through the box of miscellaneous drawing supplies in the pencil box.

"I can cut something if you want," Aizawa said and simultaneously signed with his hands, making a point to sign toward Bakugou.

"What doing with hands?" Izuku questioned, tilting his head at the strange movement, Bakugou also mimicked the head tilt.

Just as he thought, Bakugou didn't know sign language and coincidentally made the sign for scissors earlier. Still, it wasn't a bad idea to teach them both a couple of signs, especially if Bakugou is prone to not speaking at times. Although this could also just be a childish reaction since they are in fact children that seemed unlikely considering Bakugou's speech so far.

"Kacchan wants scissors!" Midoryia spoke up but Katsuki huffed and turned away.

Even though Bakugou was being unfriendly, Aizawa got up and grabbed a pair of scissors from a box on the top of the bookshelf. The boys eyed the large not kid-friendly scissors and admittedly Bakugou let down his aggressive act to reach up at them with puppy dog eyes.

"Not safe for kids, just show me what you want to cut okay?" Aizawa said as he sat down on the other side of the coffee table.

"That's super pointy! Big kids scissors are scare! What if I cut my finger away?!" Midoryia spoke up about the huge scissors, only ever seeing kid's scissors made it so that the scissors looked even more menacing.

"These are adult scissors, I don't want you guys hurting yourselves so show me what you want to cut," Aizawa directed his response to Bakugou who started to glare as he realized he wasn't going to use the big pointy scissors.

With a quick grab, Bakugou tried to take the scissors away from the man but of course, he wasn't a match for Aizawa's reflexes.

"I said no," Aizawa said firmly which seemed to make both the kids flinch at the harsh tone, to combat this reaction Aizawa softly said, "I don't want you to get hurt, let me cut the paper for you."

Katsuki let out an annoyed click of the tongue and reached out his hand, demanding the scissors. The boy was adamant about using the scissors regardless of the man's warnings of danger. Seeing the deviance, Aizawa had to make a stand.

"Again no. It is dangerous. Midoryia do you want me to cut something?" Aizawa asked the green-haired boy to hopefully show an example that he was more than capable of cutting the paper the way they wanted to.

"Can you cut this part like a circle? It will look like a sun!" Izuku asked pointing to a bunch of swirls overlapping in red, yellow, and oranges, so overlapped it was hard to tell it was a combination of obsessive swirls from far away. 

Aizawa did as he was told and cut a circle from the most dense part of the drawing. Midoryia happily took it and grabbed glue from the pencil box, planning to glue it on another piece of paper.

"Okay Bakugou, what do you want me to cut?" Aizawa asked the blonde who was making an angry face the whole time. Instead of telling the man where to cut the boy held out his hand again, clutching his hand serval times to signal he wanted the scissors.

"No means no," Aizawa said once again, not planning to change his mind. The man would give Katsuki kid scissors but unfortunately, he had to throw it away because of the middle part being worn out and causing a hazard. And he forgot to buy another pair.

With an angry huff, Bakugou got up and smacked his fist on the table, making another try to grab the scissors which of course failed. Aizawa could see the determination in the blonde's eyes but he also saw past that mask and underneath it saw fear and uncertainty. He recognized this behavior but was surprised to see it manifest in a child this young. Bakugou was testing him, trying to see the consistency of the man's words and where the boundary was for punishment.

"No," Aizawa said it more firmly in a deeper tone, not to enact fear but rather to show Bakugou that he intends to keep his boundaries and won't be worn down. The man held his eye contact with Bakugou, both of them not sparing a glance away to show that they were serious.

"Stop it Kacchan! What if he gets mad!" Midoryia's outburst broke the imaginary contest as both Aizawa and Katsuki looked over.

Izuku had tears in the corner of his eyes as he held on tightly to his shirt on his chest. The boy didn't like the way Bakugou was acting towards the man, nor the man's new harsher tone. Anxiety was clear on his face even with his eyes staring through the paper on the coffee table in front of him.

"I am not mad, but I will not let Bakugou use the scissors by himself," Aizawa explained.

"Why are you being bad? Bad is not good, if bad then maybe he will be bad to you and me. Stop it Kacchan. Just. Just. Just tell him to cut the paper!" Midoryia's rant started timid with confusion but ended in an angry command.

Bakugou went stiff for a second at the unusual anger shown to him by his usually timid friend but relaxed when Midoryia put his head down on the table. The green-haired boy covered his head to block out light and closed his eyes, creating a quiet isolated place to clear his mind. This was a clear expression of frustration and he needed to calm down in his own space for a moment. Aizawa had seen something new, it was the first time Izuku had shown aggressive emotion since his arrival.

After staring at Izuku for a couple of lingering seconds, it was clear that Bakugou decided to stop the test for now. Begrudgingly the boy pointed around the paper where he wanted the paper to be cut to the man.

"You want me to cut around this?" Aizawa asked in a soft questioning tone using his free hand to make sure he was cutting what the blonde wanted to be cut.

Izuku raised his head from his isolation and saw Bakugou nod, cooperating with Aizawa. Seeing the resolution, Izuku straightened back up from hiding. Bakugou just huffed annoyed as the man cut the paper with precision.

"Not mad?" Izuku asked the man one last time.

"Nope," Aizawa said simply and the boy let out a small breath of relief.

Bakugou made a soft huff of defeat and scooted closer to Midoryia, head-butting the green-haired boy on the shoulder. Izuku returned the affection by putting his arm around the blonde and letting Bakugou lean on him. Aizawa found it amusing that Katsuki immediately stopped his bad behavior the second Midoryia was angry. Usually, Bakugou was the leader, in charge of their actions but the second Midoryia's rare anger showed, the blonde listened and craved reassurance from his friend.

For the remainder of their crafts session, Aizawa cut up their paper when asked and watched as they created their art. Admittedly it turned into colored paper glued onto other piles of paper but they seemed entertained, and what's more, it was a way for Aizawa to be included.

"Wow! These are so nice! I think it's fridge-worthy! Do you think I should hang them up?" Aizawa said with enthusiasm, seeing the hard work they put into their drawings.

"Really?! On the fridge!" Midoryia asked, his eyes shining.

"Yeah! Let's hang it right now!" Aizawa grabbed their work and the boys followed him to the fridge.

Once there Aizawa grabbed some kid-safe magnets and carefully put them on the fridge. Their slightly glued soggy paintings of swirls and unintelligible shapes hung up with pride. Aizawa clapped his hands and made a whistle with his mouth, admiring their efforts.

"These are really good! Didn't know I had such great artists in the house!" Aizawa smiled down at them and Midoryia let a giggle escape as he shook his hands in delight. Bakugou on the other hand huffed and looked away but Aizawa saw a small blush on his cheeks.

"Okay, how about we clean up and watch some cartoons?" Aizawa asked and Midoryia nodded and ran back to the living room, Katsuki following behind him.

Midoryia was hurriedly picking up the mess of dispersed drawing supplies but Bakugou was more sluggish. Aizawa put away his scissors and helped Midoryia by picking up some hidden colored pencils under the table.

"Hurry up Kacchan! T.V!" Izuku said excitedly as he reached for the pencil across from Bakugou.

"Come on Bakugou, help clean up," Aizawa commanded, but the blonde just slowly put one crayon in the pencil case while they picked up the rest.

With a straight face, Bakugou grabbed the corner of the pencil box and pulled it to the corner of the coffee table. Aizawa and Midoryia froze as they saw the impending action.

"Bakugou don't," Aizawa said firmly, but without breaking eye contact Bakugou slowly pulled the box off the edge. The neatly placed art supplies spilled from the open box and crayons and pencils rolled every which way.

Midoryia seeing Bakugou's disobedience come back, whined at the mess the blonde created. Hurriedly Izuku tried to pick up the supplies to lessen the impending punishment.

"Izuku darling, don't pick it up. Can you go sit on the couch? I'm going to talk to Bakugou for a second."

That last sentence made both boys straighten up, Midoryia's face full of worry as he looked at Katsuki. Bakugou looked up at Aizawa with wide eyes, his heart racing as he seemingly found the limit to the man's patience. Slowly Midoryia made his way to the couch, ignoring the distressing mess and keeping a close eye on the scene.

"Bakugou, come here." Aizawa motioned the boy to come to him and Bakugou cowered but listened, inching his way to the man with his arm over his head.

"I'm not going to hurt you, buddy. I'm not mad but I don't like the way you are behaving. Want to tell me why you dropped everything?"

It was a long shot to expect an answer and as expected Bakugou shook his head no, keeping his arm over his head. Midoryia was anxiously fidgeting behind him, rocking himself in the seat as he grabbed a cushion to cover himself.

"I want to keep a tidy home for you two so I expect that kind of behavior to stop. You are going to clean up that mess by yourself and I won't turn on the TV until you're finished. I'm very disappointed in you."

Bakugou tensed up at the word disappointment, lowering his defensive arm and peering up at Aizawa with hurt-filled eyes. It wasn't until tears fell down Katsuki's face that Aizawa felt that maybe his words were too harsh. Aizawa opened his mouth to apologize but Bakugou wiped his tears angrily and stomped away, picking up the mess of pencils thrown about.

Aizawa watched with crossed arms as Bakugou picked up every last pencil and put it away neatly in the pencil box. It was only until the blonde put the case neatly on the coffee table that Aizawa gave him an approved nod. With an annoyed click of the tongue, Katsuki made his way next to Midoryia who grabbed anxiously onto his shirt.

Without any more words, Aizawa turned on the television and put on a kids' movie. With the boys huddled up on the couch, Aizawa grabbed his laptop back up and decided to finish the report he started on earlier. Now and then the kids would take turns eyeing him from the couch but after the movie became more engaging they stopped looking.

Midway through the movie Aizawa finished his report and other papers and decided to fax Tsukauchi a list of concerns for the children. In doing this he hopes to get the boys an appointment with doctors and specialists sooner. At the very least Tsukauchi will have an idea of which doctors would be best for their specific problems if he sends it now.

Luckily in the corner of his bedroom, Aizawa had basically an office, a fax machine included. Of course, he didn't leave the children unattended, instead, he stood at the door, peering down the hallway to keep an eye on them while the machines did their thing.

An unexpected giggle was heard in the living room so Aizawa made his way back. Hiding behind the corner to see if they were being bad behind his back. The source of the giggle was Midoryia who was peering down at his feet, Bakugou looking down as well.

It turned out that during Bakugou's clean up he had missed a blue color pencil that rolled under the couch. That color pencil was now the source of a certain feline's entertainment.

Lady, the cat, had come out of hiding to bat around the pencil. Each time the feline's paw reached out from under the couch Izuku would let out a squeal in delight.

"Lady!" Bakugou couldn't help but exclaim the cat's name when he saw her familiar sand-colored paws.

The boys laid down on their stomachs to watch the cat play with the loose colored pencil. The sounds of commotion under the couch made them try to see down into the gap but they couldn't peek without falling over themselves. Each time the pencil flew out the cat clawed it back into the abyss to bat at it some more and for each of those appearances the boys were visibly vibrating in joy. This lasted for serval minutes before Lady bunny kicked the pencil to the corner of the room and quickly pounced on it chewing the blunt end.

Seeing the timid cat come out from her hiding places was a special occasion for the boys. So what happened next was very disappointing and in a way concerning, to say the least.

Bakugou grabbed a large couch cushion that was bigger than himself and slowly got off the couch. Lady chewing on the pencil with her back to the boys, completely unaware. Midoryia copied Bakugou's actions and grabbed a cushion but was more heavy-footed than Bakugou so Lady turned around instantly.

Still, the cat didn't move and instead flicked her tail annoyed and cautious of the boys approaching her. Aizawa looked on, wanting to know what the boys were planning to do once cornering the cat. Lady was mostly a timid cat and wasn't the least bit aggressive so it wasn't a surprise that she didn't try to move when the boys slowly closed her in the corner with the cushions.

Lady let out a distressed meow as she got cornered, easily she could've jumped over the cushions or even angrily swiped at the boys but she didn't instead she let out another distressed meow. Bakugou turned to grab another cushion from the couch. This time running back to place it on top to make extra sure she wouldn't jump out.

"Look! Can see!" Midoryia looked through a hole in the couch cushion fort they built around the cat. Bakugou looked through it and found it amusing when the cat let out an annoyed growl.

"That's enough, let her out right now." Aizawa's stern voice surprised the boys from behind them and they quickly returned to their places on the couch.

"How terrible! Poor Lady! Do you think she likes being trapped like that? This is very very bad!" Aizawa scolded the boys as he walked over to the corner to let Lady out, as soon as he moved the cushion the cat jumped out and up to the bookcase.

"Bakugou, you've been bad all afternoon! I thought you liked Lady? Why would you trap her like that? How would you like it?" Aizawa said and Bakugou let out an angry huff and crossed his arms.

"And Midoryia, do you think Lady liked that?" Aizawa asked and the green-haired boy whined at the question directed toward him and shook his head no.

"Lady is not a toy. This is very bad behavior and I have no choice but to put you two in a time-out. No more T.V. Come and follow me." Aizawa's voice was stern but that wasn't the reason for the sudden fear in the boy's eyes, it was the words "Time Out" that got them scared. Those words distressed them so much that they got goosebumps instantly.

Midoryia was already crying when he hopped off the couch to follow the man but it was Katsuki who looked the most guilty. With hands clasped on Bakugou's shirt, Midoryia followed behind them both as Aizawa led the way.

"I want you two to sit in that corner of the room. No talking, no playing, no moving. Just think about what you did wrong!" Aizawa said the rules out loud as he cleared the toys from the corner of the room leaving it bare. Midoryia's crying had turned into sobs at this point.

After setting up two child chairs in the corner facing the wall Aizawa turned to the boys and saw a couple of concerning signs. For one Bakugou looked paler than usual and his eyes were wide as he spaced out at the corner where they would be sitting. Midoryia was practically hyperventilating as he tried to babble an apology but it just turned into distressed noise.

"Come on, your time out starts as soon as you sit down," Aizawa gestures towards the seats, putting on a softer tone to his voice. Despite this, the boys seemed to tremble as they slowly approached their seats. The blonde even stumbled a bit as if he were dizzy as he got closer to the corner.

Bakugou looked up at Aizawa, distress in his eyes almost begging to not be put in time out. Aizawa just gestured toward the seat again and the blonde slowly sat down. Katsuki held strong, his knuckles white as he grasped on tightly to the chair, a distant look in his eyes as he stared through the wall.

Midoryia whimpered as he stepped closer to the chair and paused before reaching it. Breaking into tears harder as he looked up at Aizawa. The man wanted to stop the punishment immediately but they needed to learn the consequences and this was the best way without causing physical harm.

"Sit," Aizawa said simply and Midoryia's crying turned into those high-pitched whines with trouble fully grasping his breath afterwards.

"Follow the rules, no talking, playing, or moving," Aizawa said in a stern tone and Bakugou lowered his head in shame. Izuku sat down and hugged himself as he cried in the corner, trying his best not to fidget.

Aizawa turned on a timer on his clock for five minutes, just enough time to let them think of their wrongdoings but not enough to let their minds wander. The time out however wouldn't last that long because before the three-minute mark, Midoryia was crying even louder than before and was at the risk of hyperventilating. That was the line for Aizawa, seeing the punishment being too much for them.

"Okay, times up! Time out is over," Aizawa lied and the boys both looked up with the most bewildered look in their faces.

"Huh?" Was all Midoryia could muster before gasping to catch his breath.

"You guys can get up now! Just promise me you won't be mean to Lady again."

Izuku's breaths were labored but at the very least he wasn't choking on his own breath like before. Both the boys were still tense but got up from their seats, eager to get away from the corner of the room.

"No more time out?" Izuku asked shakily and Bakugou stared intensely for an answer.

"No. Time outs are only for a couple of minutes."

"Couple of minutes? Like right now?" Midoryia questioned, looking at the floor and seeming to space out.

"Yes."

"Auntie made time out really long time," Midoryia said and wiped the tears off his face. Bakugou grabbed onto his friend's shirt to get his attention and shook his head no.

"You can tell me if you want, you're safe here with me."

Midoryia let out a whine as he heard the comforting soft tones in Aizawa's voice. Katsuki on the other hand was less than thrilled to share about their past so he held tight on Izuku's shirt and pulled back.

"Bakugou, let him speak. Nothing bad will happen. No matter what I'm going to be here to support you two."

Aizawa reassured the boys and for a second Bakugou thought about the consequences and didn't find a reason to hold back anymore. His mother was dead, they didn't have to keep anything secret anymore. The blonde let go of Midoryia's shirt but looked away from the man's understanding eyes, it made him uneasy at the unfamiliar sight.

"What happened with Auntie?" Aizawa asked, the endearing expression of kin leaving a foul taste in his mouth due to the circumstances.

"Mmm," Izuku was unsure now, fidgeting with his hands nervously as he looked back at Bakugou who just huffed in response. Seeing the hesitancy, Aizawa sat on the floor in front of the green-haired boy, the position they found him less threatening in.

"Izuku darling, it's okay. You can tell me," Aizawa said, his voice low and comforting.

"Auntie's time out was for a lot long time," Midoryia said simply in what was barely an audible mutter.

"How long?" Aizawa asked and Midoryia whined at the question, reaching his free hand to tug softly at his curls.

"Long long time," Izuku said once again.

"A couple of hours?"

Izuku shook his head no.

"All night?"

Izuku shook his head no.

"A day?"  Aizawa asked, not being able to hold back an angry tone.

Izuku shook his head no again but this time let go of his curls to shake his hands in the air, the anxiety escaping through them at least for a second. Before Aizawa could ask again, Bakugou reached out his hand to Izuku, the boy instantly accepted it and squeezed his friend's hand tightly.

"Lots of days, sometimes two or three. One times it was five. Auntie said she wanted a break so we were in Kacchan's room for long time. Auntie doesn't like noise."

Aizawa closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath, hiding his anger in his hands as he rubbed his temples to ease the headache he was going to have from holding in his rage. Even though Aizawa tried his best to hide the unpleasant feelings, Bakugou was really good at catching even the hint of displeasure.

"Huh?" Izuku questioned as the blonde pulled him back from the man.

"It's okay. Thanks for sharing with me. You were very brave to talk about this, I'm sorry you boys went through such a bad time.."

Aizawa was going to let it go, write it down in the report for later, and let them cool off but suddenly Izuku piped up again.

"Auntie's time out is different because we didn't sit down. We just quiet all day in Kacchan's room, not loud which is very boring."

Midoryia finished his sentence with a pout, his eyes looking distant as he thought about the past. These statements explained why the boys looked so nervous when the punishment was first brought up, it was a very traumatic experience.

"You are safe now, no more time-outs." Aizawa declared and Bakugou looked up at him to read if there was any deceit but saw nothing to indicate so.

"No time-outs?" Izuku asked, looking down at the floor and tapping his feet together. Aizawa couldn't see his eyes but he just knew they were wide with distress.

"I promise you two will never be in time out again," Aizawa said boldly, knowing that it would take extra effort to make sure their future foster knew of this awful situation.

"Never again?" Izuku questioned in an unsure tone.

"Izuku, Katsuki, look at me for a second," Aizawa demanded and the boy slowly peered up, Bakugou hearing the shift of tone also looked the man straight in the eye.

"I promise you will never ever be in time out again, I'll make sure of it."

Chapter Text

Here’s the link to the Tik Tok walkthrough: 

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTLYsmHVW/

Chapter Text

"Aizawa," Midoryia spoke up as they made their way back to the living room.

"Yes, kiddo?" The man questioned.

"Is it outside times yet?" The boy asked pointing to the front door where they usually played.

"Yeah we can go outside if you want," Aizawa complied with the boy's request.

Both boys went to the front door, hurriedly putting their shoes on. Bakugou was quick to put on his shoes but Izuku struggled, placing the wrong foot in the wrong shoe.

"Can't," Midoryia pouted, letting his shoe fall off his foot.

"Dekiru," Bakugou mumbled a gentle encouragement roughly meaning 'you can'. The blonde wanted his green-haired companion to try and learn so he sat back, chewing his crystal as he waited. After a couple of minutes of Midoryia still struggling with his shoes, Bakugou let out an annoyed huff and switched his shoes to be in the right order. The second those shoes were on, Izuku eagerly tried to open the door but of course, it was locked by the chain on top.

"We aren't going out front babe, we are going to play in the backyard today," Aizawa explained as he slipped on his own shoes.

"Back? There's outside the back?" Izuku questioned and Bakugou gave a head tilt.

"Yes, but I put some special water on the grass to get rid of mean bugs so we couldn't go out until today," Aizawa explained it in simple terms, it meant that he treated the grass with pesticides to repel insects, primarily for the ticks and fleas to keep Lady safe. It was usually recommended to wait a few days after treatment and since he sprayed it a couple days before the anticipated vacation it should be more than safe now.

The second Aizawa opened the door the boys' eyes were filled with wonder. The backyard had much more to offer than the bushes and rocks in the front yard. There was a vegetable garden consisting of multiple rows of growing vegetables at the center and flowers planted on the entire perimeter of the fence.

"Pretty flowers!" Izuku exclaimed and ran over to some marigolds in the corner.

"Don't pick them please," Aizawa called out but Izuku turned around with an already plucked flower. The boys looked at him wide-eyed, looking to see how the man reacted to the unintended disobedience.

"I'm sorry," Izuku mumbled and took a side step to hide behind Bakugou.

"It's fine, there's plenty around. Just don't pick anymore okay?" Aizawa told them and Izuku nodded meekly, shame still on his face.

Aizawa walked towards them and Bakugou stepped back into Izuku, keeping an arm outstretched to make sure the boy kept behind him. Seeing that the blonde was considering him hostile, Aizawa bent down to their level to ease their mind.

"Come here, let me see the flower," Aizawa beckoned the green-haired boy and Izuku stepped out from behind Katsuki, surprising the blonde.

Even though Midoryia felt guilty as seen from him looking down at his feet again, there was not a significant amount of fear when approaching the man. Izuku held up the flower and Aizawa grasped it looking at it closely.

"These are one of my favorites, they look really fluffy and have a nice feel when you touch it," Aizawa said, brushing his hand on the flower's unique petal formation.

"You try," Aizawa offered and Izuku held up his hand to the flower, petting it.

"It's soft and tickles," Izuku said enthusiastically, his smile returning as he touched the flower that was bigger than his hand.

From behind the green-haired boy, Bakugou tipped toed to get a better view over Izuku's shoulder. Seeing the interest in the boy's eyes Aizawa waved him over but the blonde just quickly looked away with an annoyed expression.

"Katsuki, don't you want to feel the soft flower?"

"Yeah, Kacchan flower is super super soft!" Izuku exclaimed and turned to pull Bakugou over.

Bakugou held onto the flower and felt the marigold's many ruffles, the soft texture and many ridges delighted the blonde as seen by a small smile appearing on his lips. After a second Katsuki decided to smell the flower, raising the petals to his face where he twirled it to tickle his nose.

"Me too! Let me try! Does it smell good?" Midoryia asked and got close to Bakugou's face to also catch a whiff.

"Not good," Izuku said as he pulled away from the flower.

"Yeah those aren't the best for sniffing," Aizawa said with a chuckle. Those marigolds had pungent musky sharp unpleasant sent to them, kinda like hay that's been left in the rain.

Even though Midoryia didn't like the smell, Katsuki still had his nose in the flower, letting the overpowering scent engulf his nose. The boy must have found the potent smell a little unpleasant but mostly alluring.

"You like it Bakugou?" Aizawa asked and the boy nodded.

"Why have if it not smell good mister Aizawa?" Izuku questioned as he rubbed his nose with his hand to get rid of the smell.

"Someone special to me thinks they are really pretty to look at, so they are nice to have around," Aizawa explained and he tried his best to keep up his smile despite the uneasiness of the situation with his husband. It had been a couple of days now without a call, no doubt Hizashi was ignoring him out of displeasure.

"Oh, they are pretty," Midoryia agreed.

"Some smell really good, why don't you try those over there?" Aizawa pointed to some lavender next to the marigolds. Midoryia nodded and walked over to them, hesitant to smell them in case of it being like the marigolds but found these purple flowers pleasant.

"Kacchan try this one! It smells gooder!"

Bakugou walked over and smelled the lavenders, he was surprised by the difference between flowers. The boys found this flower to have a lighter and sweeter scent. Katsuki, seeing the flower's funny shape reached out and plucked a flower to have in his hand.

"Bakugou!"

"Kacchan!"

Aizawa and Midoryia both scolded him at the same time making the blonde flinch and straighten up. Katsuki looked up with wide eyes, seeing if the man would yell at him again.

"It's okay bud, just remember not to do it anymore."

Finding the lavender interesting, Bakugou let go of the marigold and let it fall to the ground in exchange for feeling the lavender in between his palms. Seeing it abandoned Aizawa picked it back up and twirled it around in his fingers.

"Izuku, come here for a second," Aizawa said in a soft tone and both boys stiffened at the words. It seemed like the words come here always put them in fight or flight mode. Regardless of the ill thoughts towards the words Midoryia made his way to Aizawa and looked at the floor, nervously twirling his fingers.

"Here, pretty flower to make you even more handsome," Aizawa said and put the flower behind Izuku's ear, the boy smiled wide at the compliment and immediately ran over to Bakugou.

"Kacchan! Look! Look! Do I look nice?" Midoryia asked, bouncing on his tip toes happily as he waited for Katsuki's answer.

"Pretty!" Katsuki said his first word in a long time, agreeing to the boy's sentiment and nodding viciously.

"Your turn! Let me put that one in your ear! Like mine! We can look nice together!" Izuku said excitedly and Bakugou gave the green-haired boy the piece of lavender he plucked out.

Midoryia did his best to get it behind Katsuki's hearing aids but it kept falling to the floor. Seeing the flower fall, Katsuki tried to take matters into his own hands but also failed at putting on the flower. Frowning Midoryia faced towards the man with a pout, looking down in defeat.

"Can I try?" Aizawa asked, reaching out his hand to receive the flower.

Bakugou looked into Aizawa's eyes for a couple of seconds, reading the man's face before slowly handing him the flower. When Aizawa reached his hand to hold Katsuki's face still the boy instinctually flinched at the contact but held still and closed his eyes. The man softly put the lavender behind Bakugou's hearing aid and twirled a piece of hair to keep it in place. Seeing it stay on made Izuku tap his hands together in delight.

"You look so nice Kacchan!" The boy complimented making Bakugou smile and hold his chin up high.

"Why do you have a lot of flowers? Does special person like all these?" Izuku asked as he made his way to the pink milkweed beside the lavenders.

"Not exactly, we like them because they are pretty. The bees and butterflies also like to eat from them!" Aizawa explained.

"They eat the flowers?" Midoryia questioned and Bakugou immediately tried to take a bite out of a milkweed bunch but Aizawa stopped him.

"Not like that," Aizawa chuckled at the blonde, and the boy huffed feeling ridiculed.

"The bees take the pollen to make honey, and the butterflies drink the nectar!" Aizawa explained.

"You like bees and butterflies mister?" Midoryia asked and Aizawa was pleased to find that the green-haired boy wasn't afraid to have a direct conversation with him.

"Yeah, they are very important! They make sure the flowers can grow again and butterflies are really pretty to look at!"

Just at that moment, a butterfly flew in front of them catching their eyes as it circled around Bakugou. The blonde held still as the butterfly fluttered around his face and landed on his nose. Wide-eyed Katsuki looked cross-eyed at his nose before stiffening as the bug crawled on his face to the flower on his ear.

"It's on you! It's on you Kacchan! So cool!" Midoryia said as both his fists shook near his chest, eyes wide as he looked at the butterfly on his friend.

The butterfly was black with orange-tipped wings which fluttered open and closed ticking the boy's ear. Bakugou looked like a baby fawn with wide eyes, looking at Izuku for help as he trembled in excitement. Aizawa huffed out in amusement and took out his phone for a picture, unfortunately, his flash was on and scared the butterfly off.

"Look."

Aizawa turned his phone to Bakugou who finally relaxed after holding his breath the whole time. The blonde looked at the photo and his eyes shined as he looked at the butterfly.

Aizawa didn't let it slip his mind when he saw that Midoryia hadn't done his compulsory walk around the perimeter but once he saw the boy stop at every flower he realized he was indeed following his own rule. It's just that he was taking the slow route by letting himself enjoy each and every flower before moving down the line.

Bakugou followed behind him, taking his time to smell and feel every flower they came across. Each time there was an earthy scent he would stick his nose in longer than the sweet ones and if there was one with unique flower petals he would feel them up. It got to the point where his fingers got sticky and yellow with different pollens and nectars. Seeing this Aizawa pulled out some hand wipes from his pocket and called the blonde over.

"Let's clean those hands, okay little pollinator?" Aizawa teased and before he could hand Bakugou the wipe the boy lifted his hands in the air. Not in a grabbing motion but rather an offering of his hands to be cleaned. It was a normal reaction from children but Aizawa found it odd that Bakugou didn't wipe his own hands since he was normally more independent. Figuring it was a test of trust, Aizawa softly cleaned Bakugou's hand free of flower debris.

"Thanks," Bakugou mumbled and went back to Izuku to continue to play with the flowers. It was a little bit redundant to clean his hands but Aizawa wanted to make sure it wouldn't irritate his skin.

"Kacchan! A bug! A bug!" Izuku jumped and flapped his hands as he shared his discovery of a ladybug in a yellow flower.

"Ladybug!" Bakugou exclaimed.

The boys stared at the ladybug, both faces inching closer until they were only centimeters away. Bakugou huffed at the bug, trying to get a reaction out of the oddly still bug, and got what he wanted. The ladybug fluttered up causing both boys to back up, their gazes following the bug until it eventually found a resting spot on Izuku's hand.

"Eeee! Kacchan look! Look! Aizawa look!" Midoryia shouted out, trying his best to be still but the excitement overwhelmed him and made him tremble.

"You see Kacchan? You see?! You see?!" Midoryia yapped excitedly and Bakugou nodded, soft 'mhms' to show he did indeed see.

"Wow! That means you're going to have very good luck!"

"Really?" Izuku said eyes shining as he looked up to the man.

"Yeah! If you count the spots it might tell you how many months of good luck you'll have!" Aizawa explained, Izuku became ecstatic at the idea and slowly raised his hand to get a better look.

"One two three four five six seven! Seven spots!" Midoryia said a huge smile spreading across his face as he finished counting.

"Wow, a whole seven months of good luck! Isn't that nice Bakugou?" Aizawa asked, trying to get the blonde to join the conversation. It was unsuccessful and he just got an annoyed huff from the boy.

The ladybug flew off after a minute and Izuku waved it goodbye as it went over the fence. Together they continued down the line of flowers, until eventually stopping at a couple of tall sunflowers. They were so tall in fact that it challenged not the kid's height but Aizawa's.

"So tall! I never saw that before! Have you saw that before Kacchan? Super tall flower?" Izuku asked his friend who shook his head no.

"Want me to carry you up to the sunflower?" Aizawa asked and Izuku raised his hands up with hardly any hesitation.

With a gentle motion, Aizawa hoisted Izuku onto his hip, supporting him with one arm. The boy held on by his legs and one arm, his free arm trying to reach the sunflower. The man used his free hand to grab hold of the sunflower stem and hold it down for the boy.  Midoryia's tiny hand reached for the velvety reddish brown center and found the fuzzy prickles of the sunflower's hairs unpleasant.

A tug on his bottom pant leg got Aizawa's attention and he looked down. Bakugou continued to tug and pointed at the sunflower above. There was a shift in the blonde's face, a certain softness, and a gentle imploring raise of the eyebrows. With wide hopeful eyes, Bakugou was choosing to be vulnerable in this moment so he could touch the flower too.

"You want me to pick you up?" Aizawa asked just in case he was misreading the silent communication.

"Ups," Bakugou mumbled and lifted his hands like Izuku before him.

With Katsuki's permission, Aizawa knelt down and scooped him up with his free hand and used the momentum from standing up fast to properly shift Bakugou up and into his hip.

"Kacchan! This one is super super high and big! But it doesn't feel nice. You try!" Izuku said happily pointing at the flower.

Bakugou tried to reach up and grab it, his tiny legs pushing down onto Aizawa's stomach which hurt a bit. Aizawa let the boys try to reach the flower by themselves but of course, they couldn't. With one finally jerking stab to Aizawa's body, Bakugou tried to step up and reach the flower. Aizawa smiled in amusement as he saw Bakugou try so hard to outstretched every one of his fingers.

"Here, let me try this!" Aizawa said and put Bakugou down for a second to put Izuku on his shoulders.

"Hold tight," Aizawa warned and Midoryia wrapped his arms around Aizawa's face.

"Can't see," Aizawa chuckled and Midoryia grabbed hold of his hair instead.

Aizawa reached out to Bakugou and the blonde outstretched his arms again to be picked up. Once upon his hip, Aizawa pulled the sunflower down with his free hand. Bakugou brushed both his hands into the velvety center of the flower and shook his hands afterward feeling it to be unpleasant.

"Told you! Not good, right? Not feel good not one bit," Midoryia said as Bakugou felt the flower, Izuku only touching the petals from then on.

After thoroughly examining the flower, Bakugou tried to push away from Aizawa, signaling he wanted to go down. Aizawa crouched down and let the boy hop off his hip, while Izuku slid off his back. They continued down the perimeter of the yard and seeing them entertaining themselves Aizawa went ahead and left them for a second to grab the garden hose. Thinking he might as well water the flowers while he was out here.

Every once in a while Aizawa would hear them excitedly discover a new bug or be enthralled by a certain flower but they didn't turn back to look at him. Once they finished their round around the fence line, Izuku decided to pass by them one more time. This time not even paying attention to flowers and instead counting his steps out loud. Bakugou followed him, his right hand out to give every flower a last bump as they passed.

Just when Izuku passed Aizawa, almost tripping on the hose, Bakugou slowed down and watched the man water the flowers. The flow of water caught the blonde's attention and more specifically the water spreading out further down without being absorbed by the dirt creating a glossy round look.

Curious, Bakugou bent down and poked the water, instantly the dirt absorbed it and the water sunk into the ground. Bakugou grinned with a pleased look on his face.

"Want to stick your feet in the mud?" Aizawa asked and Bakugou looked up at him, mouth slightly parted and shining eyes.

Let me take off your shoes and lift your pants," Aizawa said as he put down the hose and switched it off at the handle.

The blonde listened and accepted the help from the man and raised his fist to his chest. Then Bakugou slowly put his foot in the mud, goosebumps going up his leg with the cold water. Then the other, almost slipping head first into a bush of flowers.

"You're getting dirty?" Izuku questioned as he made his way back around, a look of distraught on his face as he kept away from the mud.

"It feels nice, why don't you try?" Aizawa gently encouraged, but the boy whined in distress at the idea.

"I do not like it," Izuku frowned shaking his head no as he saw Bakugou's toes wiggle in the mud.

"How about this, you try it and if you don't like it, I'll wash it off real fast with this," Aizawa said holding up his hose.

"Come," Bakugou beckoned and Izuku shook his head no.

"If you try it, I'll give you a sweet treat later!" Aizawa bribed the boy and it seemed to have an effect because Midoryia went still for a second before nodding.

Once again Aizawa switched the hose off and helped Izuku with taking his shoe off and raising his pant legs. When it was off, Midoryia let another whine escape his throat as he inches closer to the mud pool. The green-haired boy didn't know how his friend could be enjoying being dirty. Bakugou on the other hand looked like he was enjoying his time, not exactly a ball of sunshine but his eyes were soft and his eyebrows relaxed.

Katsuki found the mud enjoyable, the squishy squelchy texture of the wet dirt felt nice and cool on his feet. Plus watching the mud squeeze between toes and moving the mud around felt nice. But he would much rather play with the mud with his hands, so that's exactly what he did, squatting down, barely missing the mud on his butt, Bakugou put his hands in the mud to make a tiny mound and squish it.

"Do I have to?" Izuku frowned and shook his hands.

"No darling, you don't have to," Aizawa assured him, giving the boy an out if he really would find the experience overly daunting.

"But sweet treat," Izuku whimpered.

"You can have it anyways, it's okay," Aizawa told the boy and the boy whined at the idea.

"That's not what you say, that's cheating," Izuku complained and took a deep breath before slowly hovering his foot over the mud.

Izuku held his foot over the mud for a decent amount of time, mumbling under his breath to try to psych himself up. In the end, it was fatigue that won and the boy's foot shook wearily before taking the plunge in the dirt. Instantly at the sensation, Izuku's face scrunched up and he shook his head back and forth. In the same second the foot went in the mud, the foot came out and the boy hopped on one leg, trying to shake off the mud and feeling.

"Let me wash it off," Aizawa offered and Izuku hopped over clumsily.

The man set the hose's nozzle, on the jet setting and a strong stream of water came out, getting the mud off instantly. Izuku put his foot down and sighed in relief at the crisis he had avoided. Aizawa switched the nozzle back but accidentally rotated it in the wrong direction. Instead, he had it set on mist, which in the soft wind quickly carried the fine spray of water to the children next to him.

Giggles came out of both boys as the soft mist washed over them, tickling their skin as they were engulfed. Seeing their smiles, Aizawa gave up on trying to keep them clean and decided being happy was more important.

"Shoot," Aizawa mumbled and turned the mist away from the boys, turning their smiles to frowns.

"One second. Bakugou, your hearing aids," Aizawa reminded and the boy took them off, handing them to the man who put them in his pocket.

When the water turned back at them, Midoryia flapped his hands in delight and jumped up and down. Laughing the green-haired boy started to spin around in the mist and squeal whenever his face was got sprayed. Bakugou was the total opposite, the blonde was still, eyes closed and holding his face up to the water. Letting the soft cold spray refresh his skin and enjoying the stimuli that came with it.

"Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun!" Midoryia repeated, squealing in delight and smiling up at Aizawa.

"You having fun Bakugou?" Aizawa asked loudly and the boy nodded, almost completely mesmerized by the sensation on his skin.

The sun was going down and it had finally reached golden hour, the warm soft light creating a beautiful cinematic atmosphere of the backyard. Normally this transition from day to night that brings gentle light would evoke feelings of calmness, relaxation, and even serenity but the scene before the man was far from that. These boys were ecstatic with their newfound favorite outdoor activity and it was just about to get better.

Aizawa shifted to his left, resting his right leg, and suddenly golden light made its way past him and to the boys. There in between them an explosion of radiant colors appeared in the mist like a kaleidoscope of wonder. Midoryia noticed it without delay and gasped, his eyes impossibly wider than before.

"Kacchan! Look! Look! A rainbow colors! It's a rainbow colors!" Izuku shouted, grabbing ahold of Bakugou's shirt and shaking the boy.

Bakugou's eyes fluttered open, the mist collecting on his eyelashes being blinked away. Visibly the blonde breathed in a deep breath and tilted his head at the colors in front of him. His eyebrows raised when he started to walk closer to the rainbow and try to grab it, failing of course. Midoryia giggled and tried to do the same, copying his favorite person.

"Let's drink rainbow color water!" Izuku insisted and tried to slurp the rainbow up like soup. Bakugou chuckled and did the same, the boys drinking the mist little by little.

Aizawa let them play around some more with the mist, finding it cruel to deprive them of his man-made rainbow. It didn't take long for the rainbow to disappear, seeing that the sun went down taking most of the light with it.

Seeing it was late, Aizawa turned off the water, causing the boys to pout and look around for the mist. Bakugou seeing the hose being discarded, tried to reach for it but Aizawa stepped in front of him.

"That's enough, we can play again some other time but you need to shower before you catch a cold," Aizawa explained but Bakugou wasn't having it.

In defiance and a desperate attempt to save play time, the blonde lunged behind Aizawa but failed to see how deep his feet were in the mud. The mud held onto Bakugou's heels causing the boy to fall face-first into the wet ground.

"Are you hurt Kacchan?" Izuku asked and reached his hand to help the blonde up.

Bakugou refused help and got up on his own, wiping the mud off his face the best he could but since his hands were also covered in the substance it didn't do well. Still, under all the wet dirt, Aizawa saw a tinge of red on his cheeks, the boy had embarrassed himself.

"Let's go get clean okay?" Aizawa said and the blonde nodded, pulling his legs out of the mud and leaving two small holes in the shape of his feet.

Chapter Text

"Enjoying your dinner?" Aizawa asked.

In front of him were two very sleepy boys who could barely keep their eyes open long enough to raise their fork to their mouths. Water always had that kind of effect on children, making them super sleepy as soon as they were bathed and changed. Even in the shower, Bakugou was too fatigued to even argue with the man about shampooing his hair.

"Itsa good, yummm," Izuku mumbled the last word and didn't even finish saying the word yummy. Bakugou had his eyes closed and his chin on the table but somehow still had the coordination to bring a piece of chicken to his mouth. Chewing slowly, then stopping, then chewing again before swallowing.

"You're going to choke like that," Aizawa warned and patted the table to wake them up.

At the noise the boys straightened up for a second but slouched back the moment they realized there was no danger. They slowly began to lift their utensils and eat the food before them, Bakugou was already almost finished with his plate.

For once Aizawa had finished his plate before Bakugou, a plate consisting of some chicken, rice, and mashed potatoes. Mash potatoes seemed to be one of Izuku's favorites seeing how he slurped it up pretty quickly than most other foods, perhaps the smooth texture requiring no chewing made his mind take a break from counting his chews.

"Alright finish up then you can go to bed," Aizawa told them as he got up, ruffling Izuku's hair to wake him up as he passed.

The man had thrown his bedsheets to wash earlier and had set them to dry when the boys were washing up in the shower. When Aizawa took a look at the timer he sighed in annoyance, he always seemed to catch the dryer at the last minute and that last minute felt like ten and secretly he wondered if maybe it was lying to him.

After what seemed like multiple minutes, the dryer powered off and the man got out his sheets to put in the laundry basket. Just when he was about to take it to his room he heard a crash in the kitchen.

The sippy cup didn't even have time to make a second bounce before Aizawa was back in the kitchen, quirk activated as he grabbed the cup mid-air. Still, the lid was hit loose and water spilled all over the floor.

"You boys okay?" Aizawa asked as the boys groggily turned to look at him. Midoryia nodded and yawned as he stared at Aizawa's floating hair.

"If you are really that tired, you can go to bed. Let me clean this up while you go get settled in. I'll see you in a minute," Aizawa said and helped Izuku and Bakugou get off the chairs, scared of the chance they would fall in their drowsy stages.

Midoryia held onto Bakugou's shirt as he led them to their rooms, humming coming from the green-haired boy. The blonde stopped abruptly, causing the boy behind him to crash into him.

"What is it Kacchan?" Izuku asked, yawning and rubbing his eyes with his free hand.

Bakugou paused to examine a laundry basket filled with freshly washed and dried silky bed sheets. With his brain running on fumes and without a thought behind his eyes, Katsuki let himself fall face-first into the sheets. The basket almost tipped over but the blonde rolled around as he tried to wrap himself in the sheets. 

"Kacchan! That's bad!" Izuku became a little more alert as saw the blonde get comfortable.

"Wa-" Bakugou paused, slightly closing his eyes before opening them again, "Warm." The blonde stretched his arm out for Izuku but the green-haired boy refused.

"No, we going to get in..... get in trouble," Izuku yawned mid-sentence but Katsuki wasn't having it.

Bakugou reached out further and grabbed the green-haired boy by his shirt collar, pulling him into the sheets. Izuku struggled as the blonde held him in an embrace but quickly stopped as he felt the soft warm sheets on his skin. Slowly his eyes closed and he was out like a light.

It took a moment to clean the spill and by the time Aizawa found the boys, they were curled up in his sheets. Of course, Aizawa's heart couldn't take it, seeing the blonde hold Izuku close as they slept in the warm nest. Seeing the opportunity, Aizawa took a photo and sent it to his husband to show how cute the children were.

Sent it to his husband. The husband that is currently mad at him for ditching their honeymoon which was also Mic's first tour outside Japan. The man tried to delete it before it was sent but it was too late, the word 'delivered' appeared under the photo. Then, just a second later, 'read' replaced that word.

Aizawa's heart was in his stomach as he froze, not knowing what to do about his mistake. The man thought it obvious that his husband didn't want to see pictures of the kids he chose over him. But just when he thought maybe Hizashi was too mad to call, his phone rang in his hands. It was an instinctive response when Aizawa answered immediately, trying not to let the call ring and wake the boys.

"Hey..." Aizawa muttered not sure if he said it loud enough for the phone to pick it up.

"Really that pitiful hey is all you got?" Yamada's voice was harsh but it was also uncharacteristically quiet.

"Look I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hang up last time. The kids were throwing themselves off the couch, I had to go in and-" Aizawa didn't get to finish his excuse.

"And you didn't think to call back afterward? Or idk in the afternoon, or the day after?" Hizashi's words were poised and held the pent-up anger of being ignored.

"I'm sorry."

"I know you are. And I know those two cuties are the reason you stayed and that's a whole noble thing and I'm an asshole for being mad you're not here."

"Listen it's just a couple more days, I promise." Aizawa started.

"Yeah, I know but we booked a bunch of nice hotels for over here. Every night I'm in some new romantic place with the best views and drinks and yet I can't enjoy any of it. Heck, I just got off stage from one of my best performances and the arena was cheering so loud. Yet I can't fucking enjoy it because I know you're not in the crowd, this tour has turned sour. And I miss you," Hizashi's voice dropped at the end, the sound of interfering static made its noise as Aizawa tried to come up with a response.

"I miss you too, I'll see you in just a couple more days," Aizawa reassured.

"Mister Zawwa, you on the phone? Is it auntie? Can I see?" Izuku piped up, yawning as he sat up from the basket, Bakugou stirring up behind him.

"One second darling, let me finish up this call," Aizawa said squatting down and ruffling Izuku's green hair, masking up the pain in his eyes.

Bakugou however felt the need to take Midoryia's request into his own hands and made a grab for Aizawa's phone. The man successfully managed to evade the blonde's attempt but accidentally hung up on the phone in progress.

"Shit," Aizawa mumbled as he realized he had accidentally hung up once again.

"Shit," Bakugou said out loud, catching the man off guard.

"Those are the bad words!" Izuku gasped, lifting his hand to cover his mouth.

"You're right Midoryia, no more bad words okay Bakugou?" Aizawa tried to remedy his mistake but the blonde just gave a tiny smirk before saying another bad word.

"Fuck!" The blonde said boldly, standing up with his chest out, proud of himself.

"That's enough," Aizawa scolded.

"Bitc-"

"Say another bad word and there won't be any outside time tomorrow," Aizawa warned and the confident smile dropped from Katsuki's face. Instead, the blonde clicked his tongue annoyed, and furrowed his eyebrows.

"Mister Aizawa, can we go sleep now?" Izuku yawned with tears forming from his half-closed eyes.

"I sent you to bed earlier, you're the ones who stopped to crease my sheets," Aizawa told him amused and the boy's eyes widened.

"It was Kacchan! I said it was bad!" Midoryia protested his innocence, the boy was fully alert now that his integrity was in question. The sleepiness seemed to have left his body and was replaced with anxiety.

"Okay sure, you aren't bad boys, but you know what would make you very good boys?," Aizawa asked rhetorically, Bakugou tilting his head for the answer.

"What?" Izuku questioned.

"Brushing your teeth!" Aizawa announced, giving the boys a smile and pointing at his teeth.

"Ooooo! I used to brush teeth! I like it a lot! But then we ran out of Allmight's toothpaste and the one auntie had was too spicy," Izuku spouted off, his hands clapping at the reveal that he would be able to clean his teeth again.

Bakugou looked less than thrilled at the idea but followed the man to the bathroom anyway. Once there Aizawa grabbed the stool which served as a toilet stool and a sink stool by unfolding another step. Locking it in place, Aizawa urged the boys on which they promptly did, looking at themselves in the mirror as Aizawa tore open some new toothbrushes from a box.

"I couldn't find any hero toothbrushes but look! A red dragon for Bakugou and a green crocodile for Midoryia!" Aizawa kept his voice cheery as he pointed out the pictures on the handles.

"Ooo! It has pictures," Midoryia awed at the toothbrush and grabbed it from the man's hand, spinning it around to see the full thing. Bakugou meekly grabbed his, fascinated by the picture of a dragon but uneasy at the idea of brushing his teeth.

"I didn't get hero toothbrushes but I did get some limited edition, Mirko branded toothpaste! This one is called Rabbit's Rainbow Rush!"

"Mirko!? The new bunny rabbit hero lady? She's so cool! I see her in the TV long time ago! Right, Kacchan!" Midoryia said excitedly, his toothbrush shaking in his hand as he grasped tighter. Bakugou eagerly nodded, also admiring the up-and-coming hero.

"The box says, leap into a brighter smile! Shining bright just like her hero spirit!"

"Cool! We going to brush our teeth with Mirko toothpaste? So cool!" Midoryia smiled brightly, eyeing the box through the mirror.

Aizawa helped the kids by turning on the sink, giving them each a little plastic cup to rinse their mouth with, and wet their toothbrushes. Bakugou tried to put the toothpaste on his toothbrush himself but squeezed a bit too much which caused the toothpaste to fall off to the sink. Bakugou clicked his tongue annoyed and Aizawa helped him apply the toothpaste and did the same to Midoryia's.

"Alright, just do what I do," Aizawa said getting his own toothbrush ready to demonstrate.

"It's super important to brush in small circles, getting every part of your teeth, like this," Aizawa told them, brushing his teeth in the mirror as they looked on and tried their best to copy it. Izuku seemed to hesitate with putting the toothbrush in his mouth, sniffing the toothpaste, and giving it a lick to see if it was a preferable flavor.

"It's okay Midoryia, yours tastes fruity, it's not spicy like adult toothpaste." The man reassured and accidentally spat some toothpaste in the mirror causing the boy to giggle.

"Don't forget the back of your teeth!" Aizawa mumbled and Midoryia slowly nodded while he brushed. Bakugou however didn't seem to be following along, only brushing the top of his teeth.

"Now last but not least the tongue! You want to be able to taste all the yummy things we are going to eat tomorrow, right Bakugou?" Aizawa stressed the blonde's name and the boy quickly followed along with brushing his tongue.

Aizawa spat the excess toothpaste in his mouth in the sink and rinsed his mouth out with his cup. The boys followed his example and did the same, placing their toothbrushes in the toothbrush holder alongside Aizawa's.

"Hold on we aren't done yet, I need to make sure you guys brushed right. You first okay Midoryia?" Aizawa said, grabbing the boy's green toothbrush and adding just a small amount of toothpaste.

"Did we not do it right?" Midoryia pouted, defeat in his eyes.

"It's something I have to do regardless, you're too little and I have to make sure," Aizawa reassured the boy with a pat on his head.

Grabbing a hold of the boy's chin, Aizawa brushed his teeth thoroughly to ensure proper keep-up. The state of his mouth wasn't as drastic as previous kids before him. There was some minor gum bleeding at the top of his teeth but that would he naturally if he stopped brushing within a long time. The man found Midoryia's teeth relatively stainless and a proper off-white color.

"There you go, all done," Aizawa said and Izuku rinsed out his mouth with water.

"All clean?" Midoryia asked and the man found an opportunity to tease him.

"I don't know, give me a big smile to see," Aizawa asked and Midoryia tried his best to smile wide naturally but it was shaky without a proper emotion behind it.

"So handsome! All clean!" Aizawa told him and gave the boy a thumbs up, instantly the boy copied the expression, a real smile on his face as he was praised.

"Your turn, Bakugou. Can I?" Aizawa asked the boy who was wearily hiding behind Izuku.

Midoryia switched places with Bakugou so the man would have proper access to his friend, and decided to spend his time waiting by trying to see his own teeth in the mirror. Aizawa, seeing Katsuki's hesitancy raised his hand up softly, a couple inches away from the boy's face, waiting for permission before cleaning the boy's teeth. Seeing this the blonde gave up his fight and rested his chin on the man's palm.

The moment Bakugou opened his mouth it was clear that his teeth were in poorer condition than Izuku's. It wasn't the first time peering into the boy's mouth, since the man had seen the scaring on the boy's inner cheeks due to obsessive chewing. But seeing his mouth right after a healthier Midoryia made it look a lot worse. Katsuki's teeth were more yellowish than Izuku's and his gums were also more pale. There was also evidence that the boy was grinding his teeth together, chipping his teeth. And that wasn't the worst of it, each time Aizawa would brush a tooth, a significant amount of blood came out from the gums.

"Izuku darling, can you go settle in? Bakugou and I will be there in a bit," Aizawa sent the boy off but Midoryia paused.

"Without Kacchan?"

"Go," Bakugou answered before Aizawa could, mumbling with the toothbrush still in his mouth.

Midoryia listened and headed off with Bakugou's approval. In truth, the only reason he sent the boy off was to spare him the horror of what was to happen right now. With the green-haired boy gone, Katsuki freely spat the excess toothpaste in the sink. However, the once white and purple paste was unrecognizably red with large amounts of blood. The boy definitely had gingivitis or even periodontitis by the looks of it and it looked painful. Even just rinsing took a couple of tries before getting rid of blood.

"All done, good job Katsuki," Aizawa praised but for the first time, it looked like the boy wanted to cry out of shame.

"Hey, it will get better with time, I promise. You are still such a handsome boy," Aizawa reassured and the blonde looked up at him with tears in his eyes.

"You want a hug?"Aizawa asked and the boy shook his head no.

"How about a head pat?" Aizawa asked, expecting a no but Bakugou didn't shake his head no immediately. The blonde did a slow singular nod which caught the man off guard for a second.

"Katsuki sweetheart, you are going to be okay. Everything will get better, my very handsome boy." Aizawa reassured, softly putting his hand on the boy's head and patting his ruffled hair softly.

It was only a couple of seconds but Bakugou didn't pull away and actually kind of leaned into it. However, as soon as he deemed it was over the boy huffed and jumped off the stool to be left alone. Katsuki had always made it apparent that he disliked being vulnerable and always masked his emotions in hostility. But the thing to remember is that he's just a little kid, and all kids seek reassurance and comfort. Aizawa was just happy to be seen as a trustworthy adult in the eyes of Bakugou to be vulnerable around.

Luckily Aizawa had already sneaked on Bakugou's pull-up after his bath, using an Allmight towel as a distraction to keep Midoryia in the dark. So both the boys were ready for bed, in less than a minute, Bakugou was out the door and into his favorite spot on the bed.

"Alright Goodnight and sweet dreams," Aizawa said but Bakugou made a loud "ah" sound.

"You need something?" Aizawa asked, seeing the blonde was still sitting up in bed.

Bakugou reached his hand out and Aizawa walked over confused, seeing if he had something in his palm but found nothing. Bakugou furrowed his eyebrows and gave the man a hard stare before shoving his hand towards him, asking for something.

"What is it?" Aizawa questioned and Izuku tilted his head, not being able to interpret the strange action.

Katsuki bared his teeth and slammed the bed with his palm up, again pleading for something. Thinking about it Aizawa suddenly realized what he was asking for.

"Oh, yeah here you go. I kept it safe all day." Aizawa told him as he got the Allmight figure out of his pocket and handed it to the boy. Midoryia's eyes sparkled at the figure as he held the Allmight plush in his arms.

At this Bakugou's face softened as he uttered a small sigh of relief, looking at the figure before setting it under his pillow. The blonde looked up at the man and nodded with a small satisfied smile. Aizawa sensed he had passed a sort of test.

"Can we read a book before we sleep? Do you have any? My mommy used to do it after she brushed my teeth," Midoryia asked without sparing a glance the man’s way, playing with his fingers nervously as he waited for an answer.

"Yeah I can do that," Aizawa agreed and opened the closet door, getting a book from the top shelf.

"I think I got the perfect book! This one reminds me of Bakugou earlier," Aizawa took out the book and walked over. Since the kids usually huddled by the wall anyways there was enough room on the twin bed for Aizawa to sit comfortably.

"What's the book named?" Izuku asked as he sat upright, Bakugou leaning on him to get a better view.

"The title of the book is No, David! Written by David Shannon," Aizawa said, rubbing his finger along the words as he read out loud to the children.

"The fishies!" Midoryia said distraught at the cover art where the character was dragging a fishbowl off a table. The man chuckled at the boy's reaction and let the boy touch the cover for a second.

"Can I flip the pages?" Midoryia asked and Bakugou let out a huff in disagreement.

"How about, you flip one page then Bakugou flips the next one?" Aizawa tried to compromise and luckily Midoryia didn't mind sharing and agreed.

Aizawa opened the book he made sure he rested some of it on his lap and most of it on Midoryia's so they could see the pages as he read.

Aizawa started to read the book out loud and it didn't take them long to figure out the pattern. The character, David, would do some naughty things like writing on the walls and tracking mud through the house.

"Come back here David!" Aizawa read out the words in a fake distraught voice and Midoryia squealed as he saw the picture on the next page.

"Look Kacchan! A butt! He is running outside with his butt!" Midoryia said as he pointed at the picture on the page where the character ran outside naked.

"David! Be quiet!" Aizawa said as he turned the page and he took notice as both the boys tensed at the words.

Still, Aizawa continued reading the story until he got to a page that said 'That's enough, David!' with the character's mouth filled with food. The man decided to change the words, fearing a negative reaction from the blonde due to his relationship with food.

"Eat your vegetables, David!" Aizawa said instead and was relieved the boys couldn't read words yet.

Aizawa continued reading the book, and every once in a couple pages Midoryia would say something about the art in the pages before flipping to the next page. Mostly pointing out some objects in the background or commenting on David's bad behavior. But then came the part Aizawa thought would be most beneficial for both the boys.

"Davey, come here," Aizawa said in a tired voice and a look of concern solidified on both the boys' faces. Their empathy showed as they feared what would happen next, most likely thinking that maybe David's mother had had enough and was going to punish him. It was Bakugou's turn to flip the page, and his hand was a little shaky as he turned to the next page slowly.

"Yes, David.... I love you," Aizawa finished the book and the boys looked at the picture of the boy being embraced.

"The end!" Aizawa said and closed the book.

"His mom was mad but still said love yous?" Midoryia questioned and it hurt the man to see the confusion in his eyes but even worse than that was the stunned silence of the boy next to him.

"Of course. Even though David was always being corrected by his mom, his mom still loved him," The man explained it the best he could.

"But- but bad?" Bakugou said confused and looked up at Aizawa with giant puzzled eyes, tears threatening to form.

"Yeah, David was bad but still loved. You did some bad today too Bakugou, not listening and saying bad words," The man started and Bakugou straightened up at the accusations.

"But I still love you," Aizawa told the boy. No soft tones or broken eye contact, he didn't want it to go unheard or be misconstrued. The man said the words in a bold statement and stared straight into Bakugou's eyes.

For just a second Katsuki's crimson eyes softened but it was quickly replaced by an untrusting gaze. Furrowed eyebrows, pursed lips, a wrinkled nose, and squinting eyes, that was the face of the blonde straight after.

"Me too?" Midoryia asked softly, grasping the sheets of the bed in his tiny fists.

"Yes. I love to too," Aizawa said, putting a hand on Midoryia's head and giving him a soothing ruffle of his curls. Midoryia smiled, grasping his sheets tighter and wiggling his toes. Bakugou unlike Midoryia didn't take it too well and clicked his tongue annoyed, crossing his arms as well.

"But..." Midoryia's smile dropped and he sat still, "Why? You don't know. You don't know Kacchan or me."

"No. But I know you are good boys. And no matter what, children should always be loved," Aizawa told them.

"Is it cause me and Kacchan are little?" Midoryia questioned, looking up at Aizawa and tilting his head.

"Yes but not entirely. When you grow up, you will still be loved. So don't worry okay, love will always be here," Aizawa said and pointed at the boy's chest.

"Are you saying lies? Lies are not good. I like I love yous but not if is lies," Izuku questioned the man, not believing his words.

"It's not a lie."

"You promise? You promise the I love yous are not lies? I'm going to cry if it's lies." Midoryia pushed further.

"I promise I'm not lying when I say I love you," Aizawa reassured him and despite saying what he did, Midoryia looked like he was going to cry anyway. From behind him, Bakugou's face was scrunched up in disgust with his lip up in a sneer.

"Bakugou, I know you might not like me saying it and it might feel weird and it is okay to feel that way. But I love you even if you don't want to hear it right now," Aizawa told the blonde but Katsuki just settled back down and huffed, eyebrows furrowing as he grumbled something unintelligible.

"How about one more story? I can grab a happier one?" Aizawa asked, starting to get up but Midoryia grabbed his shirt and kept him down while Bakugou reached for the No David book that the man was going to take away.

"No new book. Can we read this one again?" Izuku questioned as he held onto the man's arm.

"Yeah, we can read it again," Aizawa agreed and settled back down into the bed.

Midoryia got comfortable and leaned on the man, resting his head on the man's arm. Bakugou seeing this, huffed angrily and jealously got closer to snuggle himself on Izuku's opposite side.

"Alright, just one more time then bed okay?" Aizawa declared and Midoryia nodded, a yawn escaping the boy's lips.

Throughout the second reading, Aizawa found the green-haired boy burrowing deeper into the man's side enjoying the man's warmth. Midoryia didn't even make it halfway through before losing his battle with the Sandman. Bakugou however was paying attention, fighting his drooping eyes as he rested his head on Izuku's shoulder.

"Yes, David... I love you." Aizawa finished the book again but this time Bakugou's lips twitched into a small smile at the wholesome ending.

It was apparent that Bakugou was fighting his sleep with tooth and nail because the moment it was over the blonde promptly fell asleep. Aizawa smiled down at them, Izuku curled up into him and Katsuki cuddled Midoryia. The man sighed as he saw that Bakugou left his hearing aids in, he would have to wake him up and take them out for him. But Aizawa let them sleep a while more, enjoying the moment of peace and thinking back three days ago when they distrusted him. It was the first time Bakugou had fallen asleep without Aizawa leaving the room first. There was a tremendous amount of trust happening. This was progress, this was his job.

This chapter I asked myself, is it really necessary to give the boys objects in their colors? Like really make everything Bakugou owns orange or Midoryia’s stuff green? But then I rewatched this scene in the MHA anime and realized even their mothers canonically color coded them. 

Chapter Text

"Good morning! I see you peeking around the corner Bakugou," Aizawa called out as he spotted spiky blonde hair and curious crimson eyes. 

Bakugou came out into the open and huffed annoyed at being caught. Midoryia followed behind him, eyes distant and half closed in a still drowsy state. The blonde walked toward the man and sniffed the air, the smell of bacon making him drool. 

"Almost ready, just a minute. Midoryia darling, your show should be on by now if you want to watch it," Aizawa said and the sleepy green-haired boy quickly sprouted back to life. 

Izuku's eyes widened at the mention of his show and he quickly turned around to make his way to the living room. Not a minute later the television was turned on and the familiar tune of Leo's number world's theme song was playing. Bakugou however, stayed behind, looking at the man cooking breakfast from a safe distance as the bacon popped grease into the man's apron. 

Breakfast took a little more than a minute to cook but it would be worth the wait. Freshly pressed waffles with blueberry in them, bacon and sausages, scrambled eggs, and a side of banana yogurt. 

"Shh," Aizawa raised a finger to his lips and sneaked a blueberry to the patiently waiting Bakugou. The blonde's eyes shone at the kind act and he quickly accepted the gift, nibbling the berry with two hands like a rabbit. 

Aizawa fixed up their plates, being extra cautious with Izuku's plate by making sure nothing was touching. Then he placed the plates on the table, adding extra blueberries on top of the waffles and setting two sippy cups filled with milk on the side.  

"Breakfast is ready!" Aizawa called for Midoryia who was standing way too close to the television. 

Bakugou hopped onto his chair, grabbing his plastic kid fork in his fist and drooling at the breakfast in front of him. Izuku however was walking backwards and at a slow pace in order to watch the television for a little more time.  Katsuki, seeing this gave the boy an annoyed huff and an "ah" to catch the boy's attention. 

"Sorry," Izuku mumbled and turned away from the television, walking to the table to eat his breakfast alongside Bakugou. 

The blonde chewed his plastic fork as Izuku slowly made his way up his chair, agonizing slow for Bakugou. With the green-haired boy next to him, Bakugou waited impatiently for the boy to take his first bite. However, Izuku decided to count the blueberries on top of his waffles first, counting up to seven before the blonde lost his patience. 

"Just eat!" Bakugou snapped, slamming his fork on the table. At this, Midoryia flinched and a look of distraught fell upon his face. 

"But..." Izuku whined.

"Bakugou, how about you just eat? Izuku will eat when he is ready, don't rush him," Aizawa scolded and the blonde laid back in his chair with his arms crossed, clicking his tongue annoyed. 

"Mmm," Izuku hummed and anxiously played with his fingers. 

"It's okay darling, you can count if you want," Aizawa urged the boy on and Izuku glanced at Bakugou who huffed at him. Midoriya counted again, counting seven blueberries before turning to Bakugou's plate and counting his blueberries too. 

"Kacchan only has five berries to eat," Izuku pointed out meekly and grabbed a blueberry from his plate and put it on Katsuki's. Bakugou's furrowed eyebrows smoothed back into his face as his eyes widened at Izuku's kind gesture. 

"I see you were making sure Katsuki got the same amount, that is such a noble action. Good job Izuku," Aizawa praised.

"Sorry," Bakugou apologized for his behavior, leaning on Izuku's shoulder without looking at him, embarrassed. 

"It's okay," Izuku replied with a smile as he saw his normally reserved friend, seek some physical reassurance.

"There there," Izuku reassured, to reciprocate Bakugou's feelings he leaned back on his friend and rubbed his face in Bakugou's soft hair.

"You know Midoryia, Bakugou doesn't eat until you take a bite first. That's why he got a little impatient right now, let's try to keep this in mind next time okay?" Aizawa told Izuku and his eyes opened wide in realization, Bakugou straightened back up away from Izuku's side and sneered at the man, uncomfortable that Aizawa had become familiar with his pattern. 

"Oh, I did not know," Izuku said and quickly grabbed a blueberry from his waffles and ate it quickly. 

"There you go, now you can eat!" Midoryia smiled at the blonde, his teeth having a tinge of purple from the blueberry. Bakugou's face got red from embarrassment as he was found out, but he just huffed as he grabbed his fork to eat. 

Bakugou started to eat as soon as he saw Midoryia take his first bite. However, instead of starting with the waffles, the blonde ate the bacon first, the smell that lured him out of bed earlier. 

"Can I has syrup?" Midoryia asked as he pointed at the syrup bottle next to his plate. 

"Yes you may," Aizawa told him and the boy waited patiently, playing with the fork in his hand. 

"You can do it yourself right?" Aizawa questioned as he saw the boy humming along to the show in the background, counting along by tapping the tips of his fingers. 

"Oh," Izuku mumbled and grabbed the syrup bottle but whined as he saw the top glistening with leftover syrup residue. 

Bakugou heard the green one's distress and quickly looked over from his plate, wiping his face with his sleeve before grabbing the bottle of syrup and opening it for Izuku. The blonde stood up on his chair to pour some syrup on Izuku's waffle but Izuku shook his head no. Grabbing the now-open bottle from Bakugou's hand, Midoryia began to pour syrup on his waffles. 

"Not too much okay?" Aizawa warned and Izuku nodded as the syrup slowly poured. 

It was clear that Izuku was locked onto the task of pouring the syrup, his tongue sticking out as he focused on getting the same amount of syrup in each square. By the time he finished, Bakugou was already halfway through his plate, finishing his bacon, sausage, and eggs. Bakugou was less precise with his syrup and messily poured the syrup on his waffles in circles. 

"That's enough syrup Katsuki, you are drowning your waffles," Aizawa scolded as the boy poured more than necessary. 

"Hmph," Katsuki huffed annoyed but stopped when said so. 

After that breakfast was going as normal, Bakugou finished before Izuku like always while the green-haired one was barely finishing his eggs. Still, even though Katsuki finished his banana yogurt he was chewing on the plastic and trying to lick the last drops on the bottom. 

"You can have another yogurt later, okay Bakugou?" Aizawa reassured and the boy pouted at the word later.

"Later?" The blonde asked, his eyes showing a form of longing. 

"I'll make extra sure to pack it right now so you can have it as a snack at Taishirou's house later," Aizawa told them, intentionally letting it slip that they were going out. 

"Who's that?" Izuku questioned while struggling to open his yogurt. 

"The place we went to the other day, he's the one you stole the pie from," Aizawa reminded him as he reached for the boy's yogurt to open it. 

"We get to see Sho again?" Izuku was enthused as he gave the man the yogurt. 

"Half n Half?" Bakugou questioned after. 

"Shoto? Yeah! We are going to have so much fun, let's make sure we play nice okay?" Aizawa told them, correcting Izuku on the boy's name. Sho was a nickname commonly used for Shouta by those close to him.

"Fun! Fun! We gunna play! Play with Shoto!" Midoryia cheered, shaking his fist up and down at the excitement. 

Aizawa handed Izuku the now open yogurt but something seemed to upset the boy. Midoryia grasped the yogurt with two hands and his smile dropped as he stared at the top. Aizawa followed his gaze to the yogurt but saw nothing wrong, he first thought maybe the bits of banana might be the problem but Izuku never showed signs of texture aversion. 

"It not open," Izuku pouted and handed the yogurt back to Aizawa. The man was instantly puzzled, the yogurt was open. 

"It is open," Aizawa told him but Izuku shook his head no. 

"Not open," The boy said again, his left hand tapping his collar bone in a quick rhythm as he started to hum in distress. 

"You can see that it's open," Aizawa said and moved the yogurt so the boy could see the top. 

"No. You did not open right. Look," Izuku said and pointed at the tiny piece of aluminum foil, it was no bigger than a centimeter. 

"That part? It doesn't matter, you can eat the yogurt like that," Aizawa told him but Izuku just whined at the statement. 

"Not yet, see it's shut!" Midoryia complained as he pointed at the tiny piece of foil. 

"There's no yogurt under the piece of foil, just the lip of the container," Aizawa explained. 

"It's wrong," Izuku said as he started to rock back and forth, his eyes staring at the piece of aluminum. 

Bakugou clicked his tongue from next to him and for a second Aizawa thought the blonde might steal the yogurt. However that didn't happen, instead the annoyed blonde tapped the table in front of Aizawa. 

"Bowl, now," Bakugou demanded as he tapped the table, asking the man to bring the item. 

"You want me to put the yogurt in a bowl?" Aizawa questioned the blonde and Bakugou nodded. 

"Yes! Yes! Yogurt won't be wrong anymore!" Izuku straightened back up from his rocking at the solution his friend provided. 

Aizawa sighed and pondered. The man didn't want to assume what kind of mentality the green one had but this made it clear that he needed a diagnosis. The man allowed the counting compulsion only because it seemed like a calming stim and he didn't know how to properly handle that. But this seemed harmful and was a clear sign of neurological disorder, or maybe multiple. The man could either make a stand and try to help Midoryia get over this detail or do as Katsuki recommended and let Izuku off the hook this time. If it was yesterday maybe Aizawa would try to get Izuku to eat the yogurt in the container, but they were going to Fatgum's house today and that's already going to be a lot for the boys, he didn't need a meltdown right now or the day might start off bad and ruin everything. 

"Okay okay, but just so you know that piece of aluminum is not going to control your whole life," Aizawa told Midoryia as he grabbed the container. 

"It's gunna.. it's gunna control my whole life," Midoryia half copied but redacted the important words that change the meaning. This made Aizawa stop and make a difficult decision. This was really bad, those were the words in the boy's head, this little piece of aluminum is controlling him. 

"No it's not, the aluminum is insignificant," Aizawa said and put the yogurt back down in front of the boy. 

"No bowl?" Izuku's face dropped. 

"No, eat it like that, nothing's wrong with it." 

"It's wrong," Izuku stated, his voice agitated. 

"It's open, you can put your spoon in it and the aluminum is not touching the yogurt," Aizawa stated the facts. 

"Mmm, but, but that!" Midoryia pointed at the foil again, tugging at his shirt with his free hand. 

"It does not matter, grab your spoon and take a bite," Aizawa encouraged and the boy whined. 

"But it wrong," Izuku said again letting go of his shirt to grab onto Bakugou's instead, shaking the blonde to ask for help. The blonde looked at his friend and couldn't discredit Midoryia's wide pleading eyes. 

"Bowl Now!" Bakugou shouted the words this time a sneer forming, furrowing his eyebrows and staring the man down. 

"I know you're trying to help sweetheart but Izuku needs to eat from the container or his compulsions will get worse," Aizawa explained but the blonde tilted his head confused. 

"Trust me, I'm trying to help Izuku," Aizawa said, knowing explaining what he meant was too complicated for the young Bakugou. At this the blonde huffed but sat back in thought, the blonde didn't know what the man meant but he instinctively perceived the man was doing good. 

"Eat the yogurt," Aizawa told Izuku and put the kid's spoon in Izuku's hand. 

"Kacchan help," Midoryia pleaded to Bakugou, yanking on the boy's shirt harder. The blonde looked into Izuku's eyes and shook his head, pointing at the yogurt for the boy to eat it. 

"It's wrong I said!" Izuku raised his voice as he got overwhelmed. 

"It's open, nothing's wrong with it," Aizawa repeated. 

"Kacchan! Please!" Izuku cried out, tears forming in his eyes but again he was ignored. 

"It's wrong, it's wrong!" Izuku shouted, grabbing ahold of his curls to pull, Aizawa cringed at the force the boy was using on himself. 

"Bakugou sweetie, can you go grab Izuku's ball, I don't want him pulling his hair," Aizawa sent Bakugou off to retrieve the item, leaving Izuku and him alone for a second. 

"Izuku darling, what's bothering you about the foil?" Aizawa asked and the boy whined. 

"It's there, it's wrong," Izuku told him. 

"Why is it wrong?" 

"I... I don't know," Izuku pouted and his fist relaxed in his curls as he tried to think of why it bothered him. 

Bakugou was quick to come back and hurriedly climbed the chair to hand his friend his squish toy. Izuku whined refusing but the blonde grabbed a hold of Izuku's hand and pulled it away roughly from his curls, before Izuku can reach back to his hair the blonde roughly shoved the squishy in his hand. Midoryia grasped it firmly, his eyes focusing in the mixing red and yellow slime inside. 

"Don't pull your hair no more okay?" Aizawa told him and the boy whined, squeezing the ball with all his strength. 

"It's wrong," Izuku mumbled. 

"It's not. Does it change the taste?" Aizawa asked and Izuku shook his head no. 

"Is it in the yogurt?" Aizawa asked and Izuku shook his head no again. 

"Then it's safe to eat," Aizawa reassured. 

"Safe to eat," Izuku mumbled as he stared at the yogurt. 

"You know why the foil is there?" Aizawa asked and the boy shook his head no.

"The foil is there to keep the yogurt fresh and clean," Aizawa said and the boy's eyes lit up. 

"Foil makes it fresh and clean," Izuku said. 

"Can you say, thank you foil, for keeping your yogurt fresh and clean?" Aizawa asked, admit-tingly using Izuku's cleanliness against him. 

"Thank you foil for keeping yogurt fresh and clean," Izuku giggled at the thought of thanking the inanimate object. 

"Okay now eat the yogurt," The man said and Izuku's smile faltered. Izuku whined but picked his spoon back up, putting it in the yogurt. 

"But the foil," Izuku pouted, his other hand squeezing the ball tightly. 

"Don't think about the piece of foil on the yogurt, we don't care about it because it doesn't matter." 

"We don't care about the yogurt," Izuku said stirring the yogurt around. 

"We care about the yogurt." 

"No we don't." 

"We don't care about the foil, that foil kept the yogurt fresh and clean. The foil was good and did its job, now it's just being there and wants to be left alone, so leave it alone and eat the yogurt. Think about the foil being good and ignoring it," Aizawa said trying to put in good thoughts to override the bad ones in Midoryia's mind. 

"Foil is good, leave it," Izuku repeated and lifted the spoon from the yogurt and up to his mouth. 

"Is it good?" Aizawa asked to redirect his mind. 

"Yeah!" Izuku declared as he slurped up the yogurt from the spoon and biting the piece of banana separately afterwards. 

"I think it's tasty," Aizawa continued. 

"Yes you do," Izuku agreed and ate another bite, his feet kicking under the table in delight. 

"Good job on eating the yogurt," Aizawa praised and patted the boy on the head, smoothing out his hair from where they were pulled. 

Midoryia smiled and continued to eat his yogurt, happy about being seen as good. Bakugou on the other hand looked envious, looking at the boy eat his yogurt while his own was already gone. 

"We are going to Taishiro's house right after we get dressed, are you excited to see your friend?" Aizawa asked, continuing to distract Izuku from the food with positive thoughts. 

"Yeah! He very very nice, he gives me a spoon," Izuku said recalling their time together. 

"What about you Bakugou? Do you think Shoto is a good friend," Aizawa asked and the blonde nodded, recalling the boy giving him the pie.

"I want you to be very nice to him okay? Someone was really mean to him and he could use some friends," Aizawa told them hoping they could practice some empathy for the boy. 

"I'll be nice, he nice," Izuku told him, finishing his yogurt. 

"You too okay Bakugou," Aizawa told Katsuki who nodded again. 

"Nice," The blonde agreed to the terms.

Izuku finished the yogurt in less than a minute since it was just a small container and happily pushed it away from himself, signaling that he was done. The boy looked up at Aizawa, holding eye contact just enough to get the man's attention then looking at the empty yogurt cup with a smile, it was obvious he wanted more praise. 

"Good job! Now let's go change so we can see our friends!" Aizawa told him and the boy hummed and nodded.

Chapter Text

"Time to hold hands!" Aizawa warned as he stopped at the pavement, Taishiro's house just across the road.

Izuku grasped onto Aizawa's hand and Bakugou grasped onto Midoryia's, it was apparent the blonde still didn't want to hold Aizawa's hand despite the progress made. Midoryia served as the bridge between them.

"We gunna play lots! Right Kacchan? New friend is nice! Do you know if he likes horsies? I got three! One for Kacchan, one for me, and one for new friend!" Izuku excitedly spouted off as they crossed the street, said horses and other miscellaneous items were in Aizawa's laptop bag which Hizashi likes to refer to as the man's purse to tease him.

"What are you doing Midoryia?" Aizawa asked. When they got to the front door, Izuku let go of the man's hand and walked over to the kitchen window.

"New friend is up there, Shoto!" Izuku said, pointing at the window.

"That's a funny idea but you don't have to sneak around, we have permission," Aizawa told the boy and the green-haired boy blushed, embarrassed at his actions.

Izuku walked over looking down to the floor as they made their way to the front door, Bakugou bumping into him in solidarity. When Aizawa knocked the boys stayed behind him, cautious of what lay beyond the unopened door.

"It's not your dad, Shoto. It's the friends you made the other day! Come on get up," Taishiro's voice could be heard from behind the door, gaining the man's curiosity.

After half a minute Taishiro opened the door, a nervous smile on his face and a hand behind his neck. Behind him was Shoto, on the floor doing push-ups and glancing up at the door.

"Sorry, he gets nervous when the door rings, thinking it's his dad," Taishiro explained as Aizawa walked in.

Izuku looked nervously up at Taishiro and grabbed the back of Katsuki's shirt. Bakugou looked around the house from what he could from behind the doorway and then looked up to glare into the stranger man's eyes. Taishiro smiled at the blonde but the blonde just sneered back. However, a spark of recognition flickered in Bakugou's eyes as he took a closer look at the man's sweater. Katsuki realized this was the same man that was with him at the convince store. Bakugou concluded that this man was not too dangerous, that he was the nice man who let him play with the sweater when he was in trouble. With that Bakugou walked into the house, Izuku following behind him.

"Hey there Shoto, it's just me Taishiro's friend and I brought Midoryia and Bakugou, remember them?" Aizawa asked as Taishiro shut the door behind them, Bakugou keeping his eye on the stranger man.

Todoroki slowly got up, finishing his final push-up and smoothing out his shirt. There was a hint of anxiety in his eyes but the rest of his face held neutral.

"Hello.." Shoto said softly, bowing his head in a polite greeting.

"Sho-Chan! It's me Izuku remember? Remember Kacchan?" Izuku asked and walked up straight to Todoroki, grabbing his shirt like he did Bakugou.

"I do remember you guys," Todoroki stated, trying to take a step back from the boy who was invading his space. Bakugou huffed behind Izuku, it seemed that he was angry that the boy immediately abandoned him.

"Kacchan say hi! Hi to Sho-Chan " Izuku said, turning back to smile at the blonde but Bakugou had enough.

"No!" Bakugou shouted crossing his arms and looking away, making a clear divide.

"Bakugou, I said to be nice," Aizawa said sternly but the boy just huffed, popping his crystal chew in his mouth and biting angrily. Aizawa felt like he made the right investment in those crystal chew necklaces.

"Be nice Kacchan! Be nice to Sho-Chan!" Midoryia exclaimed with a forming frown.

"No Chan!" The blonde spat out his chew along with his words, at first Aizawa thought it was a mean nickname to bully the kid but that wasn't the case.

"No-Chan?" The freckled boy questioned confused, Shoto was behind him, tilting his head at the scene.

"Little guy sounds jealous," Taishiro teased and Aizawa nodded, a small chuckle escaping his lips. Katsuki clicked his tongue annoyed and glared at Taishiro but kept his distance.

"Oh! Hmm... how about Sho-Kun? Is that good? Is it?" Izuku asked, trying to compromise but the blonde clicked his tongue again.

"Just Shoto is fine," Todoroki spoke up and the blonde nodded, agreeing. It seemed like Bakugou didn't want the green one getting so close that quickly. Midoryia however pouted, not liking that his nicknames were rejected.

"Half n Half!" Katsuki offered.

"That's a little long don't you think?" Aizawa questioned the blonde, hopeful that it would make him drop that nickname.

"How about just Sho! Can we call you Sho?" Izuku asked excitedly but the boy just shrugged.

Taishiro perked up at familiar nickname, it wasn’t heavily used but Aizawa was occasionally called Sho in passing. It was his husband who mostly called him that, since he’s the one who coined it. Shouta gave a knowing smile and shrug to his friend when he saw Taishiro get unsure. It wouldn’t be a problem if the kids used his nickname for the new kid, besides, they won’t be here long.

"Yeah that's fine," The boy agreed.

"What doing on floor? When at door?" Izuku asked and for a second Todoroki was confused but remembered the scene a while ago.

"I was doing push-ups, I need to get strong or my dad will get mad," Todoroki explained and Tashiro quickly shushed him. Aizawa gave the man a small shove with his elbow in a more questioning way rather than aggressive.

"We can't talk about your dad okay buddy?" Taishiro reminded the boy but gave a hard stare at Aizawa. The man got the message, it was classified but what caught his interest was how hard Taishiro seemed to be keeping it. There was also the clear intention of keeping Shoto's last name a secret, it must be a case of a celebrity or some other high-profile figure.

"Stop, I see you thinking. Just let it go," Taishiro told Aizawa, he could practically see the pins and strings on his mental board.

"How strong you be? Very?" Izuku questioned.

"I'm a little stronger than I was last year."

"Can you pick up something big? Like me?" Midoryia asked and Shoto looked at the boy for a second before nodding.

Without a warning Izuku grabbed onto Shoto's shoulders and hopped up, forcing the bi-colored boy to carry him in his arms. The surprise made him shuffle a bit but he quickly readjusted and carried the boy bridal style.

"Wow! That's so cool! Right Kacchan?" Izuku asked and the blonde huffed and rolled his eyes. Bakugou took his first steps closer to the stranger kid and grabbed Izuku, lifting the boy out of Shoto's arms and raising him up, though he did unsteadily.

"Kacchan is strong too! Can I try? Can I try ups Kacchan?" Izuku asked, getting off the boy's arms.

Aizawa and Taishiro stood and watched the boys get to know each other while they stood back and chatted.

"You said he's not eating well?" Aizawa questioned Taishiro, starting their private conversation.

"I've asked about the food but they won't tell me anything, said he won't be here long anyway. He's been eating soba, but he won't eat anything else his father hasn't approved. It's like he's scared to eat the wrong thing."

"He ate some pie the other day right?" Aizawa questioned, apple pie wasn't exactly healthy.

"That's why I wanted you guys to come over! I think he ate a couple of bites of the pie because he was with your boys. I want to see if I can get him to eat something while you guys are here for lunch!" Taishiro explained and Aizawa nodded thoughtfully.

"That's good thinking, try making a healthy meal like chicken and broccoli. If his father has him training he's probably used to protein and vegetables," Aizawa suggested.

As the adults held their conversation the kids were busy messing around. Izuku was trying to lift Katsuki, but the boy couldn't lift him an inch without his hands trembling.

"I can't!" Izuku cried out letting go and huffing from the effort.

"You are the youngest Izuku, you'll get stronger in time," Aizawa encouraged the boy, stopping his conversation for a second as he heard the boy's negative comment.

"Youngest? How old are you Sho?" Midoryia questioned.

"I turned five recently," Shoto told them, and instantly Midoryia's eyes shined. Unlike Izuku, Bakugou didn't take Todoroki being older than him lightly instead he pursed his lips in jealousy.

"You two years more than me! Kacchan is gunna be four in a little bit! Right Aizawa!" Izuku exclaimed asking Aizawa for the correct date, to him every adult knows how old they were and when they completed a year. However, Aizawa had a good memory and didn't let the boy down by not knowing.

"Yeah, Katsuki turns four, in about two months from now," Aizawa helped the kid out, impressed the boy knew it was almost around his friend's birthday.

"You're very small for being almost four, what's your BMI?" Shoto asked the blonde, taking note of not only his small size but also Izuku's.

The adults in the room were stunned into silence that even Shoto could tell the boys were underweight. Bakugou however didn't take kindly to the judgment of his appearance, sneering and huffing angrily.

"Ph-Fuck off brat, I not weak!" Bakugou shouted his teeth grinding as he glared at Shoto, stuttering at first but the rest was said perfectly, the line sounded rehearsed.

"Bakugou! No bad words" Aizawa scolded.

"I didn't say you were weak, I said you were small," Shoto reiterated but it just caused the blonde to be more upset.

Bakugou was trembling in anger as he walked closer to Todoroki in a wide stance, grinding his teeth as he grabbed Shoto's shirt collar. Aizawa opened his mouth to scold the boy again and even made a step toward the scene but Midoryia stepped in instead.

"Kacchan, he not being mean. We are small, we little, like two year littler," Izuku spoke up in defense of his new friend, eyes shining with forming tears as he grabbed ahold of the back of Bakugou's shirt.

Katsuki looked back at Izuku and saw the tears threatening to fall and immediately let go of Shoto's shirt. Todoroki was more confused than afraid by Katsuki's actions which seemed to piss the blonde off more, but instead of being aggressive Bakugou just clicked his tongue annoyed, and crossed his arms.

"Hey, let's get along okay?" Aizawa spoke up, staring specifically at Bakugou.

"How about we go outside? Come on Shoto, you can show them the playground!" Taishiro suggested and the boy nodded, fixing his worn shirt collar.

"Outside!" Izuku mimicked excitedly, the moistness in his eyes disappearing.

Taishiro led the way to the back of his house, making suspenseful humming as he opened the door to the backyard.

"Ta-Dah! That thing is brand spanking new!" Taishiro said, a personal playground taking up a corner of the backyard.

"Eee! Kacchan look! Look! Itsa play tower!" Midoryia shouted, jumping up and down as he spotted the playground.

"Shh," Bakugou shushed Izuku at his sudden loudness and the boy instantly stiffened, looking back at the adults warily, especially at Taishiro.

"No shushing, Bakugou you are allowed to be loud when we are outside okay?" Aizawa said, wondering if maybe he should play music on his phone again. Bakugou nodded but still had a nervous look in his eyes, looking back constantly to Taishiro and Aizawa.

"It's okay kid, you can be loud if you want. Just have fun!" Taishiro said, giving the blonde a smile which the boy quickly looked away from. 

"Taishiro, when did you buy this?" Aizawa questioned.

"Oh, I bought it the day before Sho showed up! It took forever to assemble but I got it done before the kid arrived! I was actually going to ask you for help but it was the same day you got those two," Taishiro explained but Aizawa couldn't believe the man set that up in less than a day.

Something Like This:

Midoryia ran to the playground, running around the thing to gawk and flap his hands in the excitement. Bakugou and Shoto followed silently behind him but the reason for their silence was different. Katsuki was just as excited as Midoryia was but didn't want to upset the grown-ups by being loud. Shoto however was confused by the green-haired boy's excitement at the equipment.

"It took a long time to assemble the thing but I thought about the smile a child would get after seeing this, I was expecting something like that," Taishiro said pointing at Izuku who was running around, hand flapping and staring wide-eyed at the new fun.

"But Sho didn't understand the purpose, the look on his face when he first saw it kinda made me regret buying the damn thing," Taishiro told Aizawa in a hushed tone, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"What do you mean?" Aizawa questioned.

Before Taishiro could answer a conversation between the boys explained everything.

"Sho let's play!" Izuku said excitedly, grabbing onto the boy's arm and pulling him towards the playground.

"That's a training ground, isn't it? Are you guys training too?" Shoto asked, his eye growing wide as he stared at the playground with unease. In that instant, Aizawa understood what his friend meant.

"Huh?" Izuku mumbled, Bakugou tilting his head confused as well.

"I told you that's not for training Sho, it's for fun!" Taishiro tried to explain again but the boy still looked dumbfounded.

"Izuku darling can you show Shoto how to play?" Aizawa urged Midoryia to help the boy out.

"How to play? Play easy! Just play! Like this! Come on Kacchan!" Izuku said more enthusiastically, grabbing the blonde by the arm and practically dragging Bakugou up the stairs. From the top, he ran around the small area multiple times before choosing the smaller slide.

"Weee!" Midoryia giggled as he let go of Katsuki's hand and slid down the green slide, landing a couple of feet away from Shoto.

"See like that! Your turn!" Midoryia encouraged as Bakugou slid after him.

Shoto nodded and looked at the playground with apprehension. With a big breath Shoto started his mission by using the rope and climbing walls to make his way up to the slide faster. Once at the top, the boy sat down quickly and roughly pushed himself down the slide. In less than five seconds he was up and down, in front of Midoryia.

"Was my time good?" Shoto asked, not even out of breath.

"Time?" Izuku questioned confused, a little unease in his eyes as he saw how Todoroki didn't have fun.

"Forget about time kid, just do what you like!" Taishiro told him but Shoto still looked confused.

"Yeah! What like from that?" Midoryia questioned pointing at the playground.

"I don't know," Todoroki said puzzled as he looked at all the attachments of the playground.

"Kacchan is the swings!" Midoryia said as Bakugou sat on the swing, the swing being low enough for the boy to swing himself.

"I... I'm pretty good at that thing," Shoto said pointing at the swinging trapeze bar next to Bakugou.

Shoto lifted himself from the handlebars and flipped over to grab hold of the bar with his back knees, successfully bringing himself upside down.

"Wow! So cool! Very strong! Right Kacchan?" Izuku giggled as Todoroki was upside down.

Bakugou clicked his tongue annoyed at Shoto's amazing athleticism. To one-up him, Bakugou decided to try his best on the swings, he once saw a boy much older than himself swing past the bar and almost around. In Katsuki's mind, if he could do that, Todoroki wouldn't be as much ahead of him.

"Your face is funny!" Izuku giggled as Todoroki's face got red from being upside down, trying his best to make it as long as he could upside down.

"What is funny about my face," Todoroki asked confused as he flipped himself back right side up.

"Red," Midoryia explained.

"Oh, that happens when I train," Shoto explained and he looked over at Taishiro.

Aizawa and the man were talking, leaning against the wall joking about Taishiro needing to buy a couple of lawn chairs rather than a thousand-dollar playground to fit in his mostly empty backyard.

"Mister Toyomitsu... should I really be near them? If this is only play my dad will get mad, I'm not supposed to..." Todoroki walked up to his caretaker for confirmation, not used to being around kids in a playful environment.

"Don't worry about that buddy. Just try to have fun okay?" Taishiro tried to convince the boy but Shoto still felt uneasy.

"Sho! Sho come try swing!" Izuku ran over and grabbed the boy's arm, dragging him to the swing next to Katsuki. Todoroki not used to the boldness and lack of personal space, let the boy who was smaller than him, drag him around. Shoto wasn’t sure why Izuku was trying to play with him, is the difference between them not obvious? This type of play was not for him, it was a different world where he wasn’t allowed to inhabit.

Bakugou was already swinging and was starting to get momentum. Izuku had sat Todoroki in the middle of the three-swing set, meaning Midoryia was furthest from Katsuki. Taking the example from Bakugou, Shoto began to swing like the blonde.

After a couple of moments, Todoroki was beginning to catch up in height with Katsuki. Comprehending this Bakugou clicked his tongue annoyed and tried his best to keep ahead of the bi-colored boy, kicking his little feet back and forth with as much force as he could muster. Seeing this Todoroki didn't get that it was an unspoken competition and instead worked up to Bakugou's pace.

The one-sided competition gave strength to Bakugou in which he channeled all of his strength to keep himself above Todoroki. However, no matter how hard he tried, Bakugou wasn't a match for Shoto's body weight and expertise in timing. With just a few pumps of his legs and a couple of well-timed swings, Todoroki was right beside Bakugou, feet in the air.

"So tall!" Izuku exclaimed as he tried to swing as high as the other boys but failed to swing his legs at the right time.

Bakugou sneered back at Todoroki, making the boy confused and the blonde kept his best at swinging. Using all his weight and throwing himself as he went for the final push to make it past the height of the bar. For a second, all Bakugou could see was the sky as he made it past the safe height, he was mesmerized as he felt himself lose touch with gravity and just for that second he thought he had launched himself into the vast sky and to the space beyond. In that moment he lost all envy, curiosity replacing it as he wondered what was beyond the clouds. That foolish thought instinctively made his fist around the swing chains loosen and he was launched right out into the sky.

"Shit," Bakugou said as the feeling of falling made him slap back into reality because opp there went gravity.

Luckily for him, the adults were supervising and had sensed the impending danger, miles away. Aizawa leaned back into the wall of the house, trusting Taishiro to handle this one. Midair Bakugou wavered, preparing to land on the grass and get a couple of bruises.  Closing his eyes, the blonde prepared for the worst as he anticipated his meet with the hard ground.

"I got you," Taishiro's voice surprised Bakugou more than the sudden appearance beneath him.

Bakugou tried to move out of the way from crashing into the man, fearing pain for both of them but instead found himself being absorbed into the man's sweater. The impact of the crash made Taishiro fall onto his back but there was no pain. Quirk activated, Taishiro took in all the impact of Bakugou's fall and held the boy close to avoid a bounce back.

"There you go, you're safe," Taishiro said softly as he released his grip from the boy.

Those words "you're safe" made Bakugou feel better about the man not only because of Taishiro's soft tone but also his action of saving him just now. Embarrassed by the mistake, the blonde was red on his face as he looked back at Todoroki who was still swinging high on the swing set.

"Wow so ups! Almost went in circle!" Midoryia exclaimed, skidding his feet to a stop.

"Is that the objective?" Todoroki questioned, swinging back with all his force to get higher.

"Wait! That's not safe!" Taishiro tried to warn the boy but Shoto had already gained enough momentum to go around.

With one last swing backward, Todoroki launched his feet forward and felt gravity lose its grip on him as he made it around the bar, the chains clicking on the metal bar as it wrapped around. Everyone was looking at him wide-eyed, especially Bakugou who had his mouth parted with astonishment.

"THAT WAS SO COOL! COOL! COOL! SHO IS THE COOLEST! RIGHT KACCHAN?" Izuku screamed out in delight as he witnessed Todoroki accomplish what Bakugou couldn't.

The adults on the other hand were less than thrilled, Aizawa was across the yard the second he saw Todoroki make the attempt. The man's hair was still floating up along with his strands of the scarf, quirk activated, ready to catch the boy if he threw himself off as Bakugou did.

"Tham brat," Bakugou muttered, the feeling of being inadequate making him feel even smaller than what Todoroki pointed out him being.

"Let's not do that again, okay?" Taishiro said shakily, his career flashing through his eyes as he recognized how badly that could have ended if Todoroki had launched himself backward.

"These kids are giving me a headache," Aizawa sighed, deactivating his quirk and rubbing his temples with his hand.

After saying that Aizawa heard a whine come from Bakugou, looking into his eyes he found an overwhelming shame. In his attempt to seem adequate compared to Todoroki, Bakugou had unintentionally made Aizawa slightly upset. Slightly upset didn't exist in Katsuki's mind, instead he thought of adults like his mother, if he wasn't perfect he shouldn't be. Katsuki felt he had made Aizawa mad in his attempts to be seen as strong and good.

"So-sorry," Katsuki stuttered, tears swelling in his eyes as he sat in the grass to hug his knees. The emotions in the kid's chest made him unable to speak properly, his mind filled with self-deprecating thoughts.

Unlike before in his controlled intentional attempts to make Aizawa upset as tests. Right now he was trying to earn the man's approval by trying his best to seem as good a kid as Todoroki. The blonde had developed trust in Aizawa and now cared about the man's thoughts on him, craving to be worthy of praise. And right now he felt like he had failed.

"Oh wait Bakugou no, I'm not mad at you," Aizawa said immediately as he realized the weight of his words.

The man kneeled down next to the blonde but Katsuki held strong to his knees hiding his tears, only small stuttering breaths were an indication of his crying.

"Katsuki sweetheart, I didn't mean what I said. You're not giving me a headache. I just got a little worried about you guys, I don't want anything bad to happen to you. You could've gotten hurt," Aizawa explained, Midoryia walking up to them, clasping his fingers together anxiously.

"Kacchan? Why cry? Did you hurt?" Izuku questioned as he walked up to his friend, his eyes showing concern.

Todoroki however felt uncomfortable with the sudden shift of emotion from the blonde. Walking up to Taishiro, the boy asked if he had done something wrong which the man quickly reassured him he didn't.

"Bakugou, you don't have to impress me, I already care about you lots," Aizawa told the boy, thinking maybe all this tough guy act was a play for approval.

"Yeah, Kacchan remember? Remember night? Aizawa said love yous!" Midoryia recounted the emotional scene last night, where Shouta made sure they felt cared about.

Midoryia grabbed hold of Bakugou's shirt, not to pull on it but to lay a comforting hand on his friend. Bakugou sniffled and raised his head from his knees, looking at his green-haired friend for a moment before looking back at Aizawa. Even with his eyes red and puffy, Aizawa could read his emotions, the boy wanted comfort.

"Izuku is right, I still love you. You don't have to do all that for me, I just want you to have fun okay?" Aizawa said and slowly raised his hand to lay it on the blonde's hair as Bakugou collected himself.

Katsuki accepted the physical comfort for a personal record of thirty-seven seconds before roughly pushing the man's hand away. Standing up, Bakugou sniffled and wiped the remaining tears from his eyes. Shaking Izuku's arm off him, the blonde dusted himself off and stood up proud again.

"That's my brave boy, now go have fun!" Aizawa praised the blonde for getting up, and Katsuki looked away embarrassed by his emotional outburst.

"I'm sorry if I upset you," Todoroki said walking up to Bakugou but Bakugou just clicked his tongue annoyed, and bumped his shoulder as he passed him.

"Be nice!" Izuku scolded Bakugou but the blonde just huffed, putting his chew back in his mouth to grind his teeth on it angrily.

"Sho can you teach me that thingy," Izuku said pointing to the wall climb.

Seeing a chance to prove at least he was better than Izuku, Katsuki tried his hand at the wall climb first. The blonde made his way up the wall climb, ignoring the rope as he pulled himself up to the top.

"Nice job Bakugou! You're a natural!" Aizawa called out to him in praise, hoping to validate this accomplishment unlike his other attempt at validation in the swings.

"Yeah, Kacchan! Wow!" Midoryia smiled up at him as he pulled Todoroki along behind him. If Todoroki wasn't having fun at the very least the green boy was making him feel included.

Bakugou sat on the top, proudly smiling as he watched Izuku take a try at it. Shoto gave the boy basic instructions, telling him where to put his hands and feet and which ones to step on and grab. Halfway up Midoryia smiled up at Bakugou, telling him that he was almost there.

Taishiro and Aizawa continued to talk about their own things as they leaned back against the wall of the house. Aizawa talked about the progress he's made with his boys and Taishiro added to it with his own experiences with Todoroki.

"I still don't think he gets it, it kinda looks like he's helping them train and gain a skill," Taishiro mumbled sadly, watching how good a teacher Shoto was in showing Izuku how to rock climb.

"It takes a little time for kids like them to get comfortable and change their views, just keep at it like you are and he will get better," Aizawa assured Taishiro but the man just sighed.

"I don't have time," Taishiro muttered a look of disdain in his eyes, a sentiment Aizawa knew too well.

"And even if I do make a small difference and get him to loosen up and have fun, what if I send him home happy just for him to lose that again," Taishiro added, the look of disgust on his face becoming apparent.

"You think that will happen? If you send him back home?" Aizawa questioned and Taishro straightened back up.

"No I don't think any more physical harm will be had to him, I'm not even allowed all the details but the one who caused his eye like that is being held in an institution. But I'm worried about letting him go home and him being conditioned into training again, shits so corrupt but maybe they won't push him so hard after this incident," Taishiro said all that despite saying he shouldn't be talking about it.

"It seems they have taken steps for his protection, the best we can do is have hope in the system," Aizawa said, knowing if he urged his friend to say more, Taishiro would probably say more than allowed and the man didn't want his friend to lose his job so quickly.

"Kacchan! Almost to you!" Izuku squealed excitedly as he climbed the rock wall, just a couple of steps from reaching the top. Now that Midoryia was up higher, Todoroki climbed alongside him to guide him better.

"Are you sure you don't want to hold the rope?" Shoto asked, pushing the rope towards the boy but Izuku batted the rope away, not wanting help since Katsuki did it without the rope.

Batting the rope away, however, was a critical mistake on Midoryia's part. Breaking the rhythm Todoroki showed him, Izuku wobbled as he misstepped causing himself to overreact and push himself back. Seeing his mistake Izuku tried to grab the rock he just let go of but his momentum carried him back. A short yelp escaped his lips as he fell backward, arms flailing around as he panicked.

"Deku!"
"Midoryia!"

Bakugou and Todoroki both shouted at the same time, their hands shooting out to grab onto Izuku. Bakugou was over the top and managed to grab one of Midoryia's flailing hands while Todoroki grabbed the front of his shirt. Bakugou pulled the boy up while Shoto helped Izuku find his balance again.

"That was scare!" Midoryia cried out as he sat next to Bakugou on top, looking down at the height he climbed.

Aizawa was prepared to catch him the whole time, watching closely and preparing his quirk but the boys helped out before he needed to intervene.

"You okay?" Todoroki asked as he made his way next to Midoryia.

"Uh huh," Izuku said, tears welling in his eyes again as he held onto both Todoroki's and Bakugou's shirts as he continued to look down at the height.

"Thanks for help Sho, Kacchan," Izuku thanked his saviors.

"You're welcome," Todoroki replied and Bakugou huffed. This huff from the blonde was softer, more of an acceptance huff than his normal aggressive ones. Bakugou's normal glare at the bi-colored boy was also softer, recognizing Shoto's attempt to save his best friend from falling, making him good in his eyes.

"Hehe Kacchan liking you," Izuku giggled as he read Bakugou like an open book, the green-haired boy was fluent in most of Bakugou's non-verbal cues.

"Huh? Sstupid deku!" Bakugou said, a light blush appearing on his face as he stuttered. Todoroki looked into Bakugou's eyes, puzzled by Izuku's words but this only caused the blonde to bare his teeth at him.

Lol I saw this TikTok on the same day it was time to update this chapter, it’s basically what Katsuki thought happened when he accidentally launched himself of the swing. 

Here’s The Link

Chapter Text

"Sho! Let's go down big curly slide!" Izuku suggested, taking the kid's hand and dragging him to the slide.

"What's its purpose?" Todoroki questioned as Izuku sat him down to go down first.

"It's fun! Go! Go down!" Midoryia tried to explain.

Todoroki went down the slide, the twists and turns spiraling him around before he landed safely at the bottom.

"My turn!" Izuku called out and Todoroki moved out of the way.

"Weeee!" Izuku said on the way down, giggling at every twirl and turn.

"That's fun?" Shoto questioned innocently.

"Yeah! Not having fun?" Midoryia questioned and Shoto shrugged, he felt a little rush of the moment.

Before Midoryia could ask about it further, Bakugou crashed into the boy. Since the green-haired boy was light he easily toppled over to the ground, Katsuki landing on him.

"Kacchan!" Izuku burst into giggles as tried to push the blonde off him.

Bakugou however seeing his friend giggling decided to take it further. The blonde sat on the boy's back to trap him and began to tickle Midoryia by jabbing near his tickle spots. Just a touch under his arms and Midoryia began to giggle harder, instincts taking over as he tried to block Bakugou's jabs to his underarms. However that didn't stop the blonde, instead Bakugou took a small jab near Midoryia's neck which sent the green-haired boy into a heartier laugh. Shoto however was confused and even a little uncomfortable, holding onto his arm because he didn't know what to do.

"Can't...breathe," Midoryia wheezed out between gasps as Bakugou kept switching his tickle tactics. Seeing Midoryia's face red and full of joy, the blonde decided it was enough and got up to let the green-haired boy catch his breath.

"I thought he would be playing with them, he seems to be just observing," Taishiro voiced his concern to Aizawa who was also at a loss.

"Well they tried the playground but that's not working. We need to switch to something else and hope that works," Aizawa suggested.

"Yeah, but what?" Taishiro questioned and the men thought about what they could do. Except it wasn't them that suggested a change, it was Izuku himself.

"Not like play tower? Want to play another thing?" Midoryia asked as he sat up, not forgetting Todoroki's questioning about whether he had fun.

"Okay... but what?" Todoroki questioned, unsure of what else they could do.

"Tag!" Bakugou spoke up to suggest a fun game of tag.

"I like tag! Want to play tag Sho?" Izuku questioned and Shoto nodded.

"How do you play?" Shoto asked.

"Easy! You touch and say tag! If it, you run!" Izuku explained.

"The objective is not to be caught?" Todoroki asked for clarification.

"Yeah! Easy! But who it?" Midoryia asked and Bakugou smirked.

"You it!" Bakugou declared, shoving Izuku before taking off, Midoryia giggled as he stumbled for a second and chased after the blonde when he regained his balance. Todoroki however stayed still, unsure if he should also be running.

Izuku and Bakugou made their way up and down the playground, going down a different slide on each one but Izuku was no match for Katsuki's speed. Midoryia liked to run so it wasn't a big deal but after a couple of minutes of not being able to catch up, he started to get upset. Something clicked in his brain and he figured out he wasn't a match to Bakugou's speed but he might be able to trick him.

Izuku chased after Bakugou again down the slide and around to the stairs but stopped at the steps. Bakugou ran up and didn't notice that the green-haired boy had stopped chasing him. Izuku waited until the blonde picked a slide. Watching Bakugou choose the swirly one, Izuku quickly made his way to the bottom of it, waiting for momentum to be his ally.

Katsuki appeared from the twirls and became wide-eyed as he saw his friend in front of him. Bakugou tried to skid to a stop and succeeded, wedging his arms and legs to stop just a foot away from his friend. Izuku giggled and made his way on the slide, reaching for Bakugou. Katsuki smiled at the challenge and a couple of grunts came out of his mouth as he tried desperately to climb up the slide. Unfortunately, it was too difficult a task for his slippery fingers against the smooth green plastic since Midoryia easily grabbed onto his foot.

"I get you Kacchan!" Izuku giggled as a surprised yelp escaped Katsuki's lips as Midoryia dragged him down causing him to lose his footing.

Falling on his tummy Katsuki groaned at the unpleasantness before getting up to pout at Izuku. Midoryia had a big smile on his face for outwitting his friend but Katsuki on the other hand looked a little upset at being caught by the likes of Izuku. Bakugou huffed annoyed at lunged at the boy standing over him to get him back to being 'it'.

"No tag backs!" Midoryia complained and Bakugou huffed at the fair rule.

Bakugou aimed his eyes for the next option, the half-red, half-white-haired boy idly standing by. Todoroki straightened up as determined crimson eyes met his light grey one. Hoping off the slide and into the grass, Bakugou smirked before running at the boy, determined to tag him.

Bakugou was faster than Midoryia but Todoroki was faster than Bakugou. There was a sizable gap between the two as they ran around, Shoto wasn't even running as fast as he could, holding back as he saw the gap between them. Bakugou however was breathing out loud, tired from being chased but it was even more daunting to be the chaser. What's even more is that Shoto learned from Katsuki's mistake and didn't run to the playground, there wasn't a way to outsmart him.

Bakugou seeing he was getting no where let out a loud shout of annoyance. The adults watched the unfair match-up of a five-year-old and a three-year-old in the game of tag. Todoroki looked at his caregiver, Taishiro, and saw him gesture to Bakugou. Without words Todoroki knew what he meant, he was supposed to take it easy on his younger companions and give them a win. They weren't training like him, so there wasn't a need to push them so hard.

Shoto pretended to stumble, Bakugou seeing this got a relit look in his eyes as he sprinted using all his energy in a few faster-paced steps. Todoroki ran a bit slower and eventually let the blonde grab onto his shirt, pulling him back.

"Tag!" Bakugou yelled out of breath, a smile of accomplishment spreading across his face.

"Way to go Kacchan!" Izuku called out from a corner of the lawn, in their chase the green-haired boy decided to count his steps around the lawn to increase his play space.

"Good job," Todoroki said to the blonde, lifting his finger in a thumbs up to show his support. Bakugou's smile faltered as he got praise from an unlikely source. If it was Bakugou he would've gotten upset at being tagged but the boy was congratulating him. It confused the blonde and he didn't know how to feel about it, so instead of taking the compliment, Bakugou let out one of his softer huffs.

"Now what?" Shoto asked.

"You it," Bakugou told him, walking past to sit on the bottom of the stairs to watch the show begin.

"I'm it?" Shoto questioned himself and called back to the game.

Being it meant being the chaser, so his new objective was to tag someone. He can't chase Bakugou because of the new tag-back rules. So his only target is the green-haired boy.  Concluding, Shoto looked towards Izuku as he happily counted his steps around the backyard's lawn. Izuku laughed and clapped his hands as he made it back to the spot where he started counting, ready to play anywhere inside the space he walked around.

Catching Izuku's eye, Todoroki began his chase, the green boy instantly giggling as he ran as far as he could with his already long distance. It took only a couple of seconds to catch up to the Midoryia but Todoroki slowed down at the last second, allowing his opponent to get away. Izuku looked back and squealed louder at the distance between them, unknowing that he could've been tagged out already.

"Can't catch me! You losing!" Izuku teased as he ran but those words unsettled Todoroki. The two colored-haired boys paused mid-step.

Lose? He thought. If I lose, Dad will be really angry and train me harder.

Todoroki grimaced as he remembered the taste in his mouth after being forced to run for miles on a treadmill. That day his father kept pushing his limits multiple times until he puked his whole system out.

Izuku slowed down and looked back at his new friend who was trembling. Shoto's heart raced at the thought of his father seeing his pitiful display of his endurance. At that moment the boy decided not to hold back anymore.

"Sho?" Izuku asked from afar, seeing the boy's hands trembling and turning into fists.

Todoroki snapped his focus to Midoryia, his eye wide but pupil small as he forgot everything else. Right now his objective was to chase and his target was poor sweet Izuku. Midoryia was not great at eye contact and was barely able to acknowledge the difference in facial emotions but he knew the face Todoroki made wasn't a good one because it shot fear into his chest. This was instinct.

Shoto started his sprint towards the green-haired boy and Izuku's eyes widened. Midoryia ran from Todoroki, forgetting the game of tag and instead running in fear. A scream caught the adults' attention and they stopped talking mid-conversation to see what was wrong.

"Kacchan! Help!" Midoryia shrieked terrified, running to his friend with Shoto quickly closing in on him.

Bakugou was confused at first but then saw the look in Shoto's eye. Fear spread through the blonde as he saw the intense look on Todorok's face, this was no longer a game. Izuku began to cry, his vision getting blurry as he ran to the safety of his friend's side.

Shoto's hand reached out to grab onto Izuku's shirt and pull him back but before he could Bakugou had grabbed onto his friend's hand and pulled the green-haired boy behind him. Todoroki skidded to a stop to avoid crashing into Katsuki but he didn't hesitate to continue the chase.

"Scare!" Midoryia cried out, grabbing onto the back of Katsuki's shirt and crying.

"S-stop!" Bakugou shouted, his voice stuttering as he broke out of his fear to defend Izuku.

Todoroki didn't listen, grabbing ahold of Bakugou's arm and pulling the blonde behind him. It was so fast that Bakugou didn't know he was on the floor until he opened his eyes to the grass at eye level. Izuku eye's widened as he saw Bakugou cast aside effortlessly, the safety he'd always known being easily defeated by the kid in front of him. Izuku trembled in fear as Todoroki's arm reached for him, fearing being thrown to the ground like his friend.

"That's enough," Taishiro's normally carefree voice was stern making Todoroki snap out of his spiral.

"You're okay Izuku Darling," Aizawa told the green-haired boy, picking him up to soothe him. Izuku held onto the man, burying his head in his chest.

"You okay Katsuki?" Aizawa asked. With Izuku on him, Aizawa bent down to lend a hand to Bakugou but the blonde just huffed and refused the help. Getting up by himself and glaring at the boy who pushed him down.

"That was a little too intense for them bud, you gotta remember they are younger than you. They got a little scared. We will talk about what happened later okay Sho? Let's go say sorry for now?" Taishiro calmly scolded Todoroki and urged him to apologize.

Todoroki turned back to the other children, Bakugou stiffening as he saw his eye on them. As Shoto approached them, Bakugou grabbed ahold of Aizawa's pants and took a step closer to him.

"Izuku, I think Shoto wants to say something to you," Aizawa whispered into the green-haired boy's ear and he slowly pulled away to look down at Shoto from the safety of his caregiver's arm.

"I'm sorry I scared you guys," Shoto muttered, clasping his hand around his left arm. Todoroki was frowning, guilt consuming him because he caused the boys to be afraid.

"Sho sorry for scare-ing?" Izuku questioned, wiping the tears from his face with his hands.

"Yeah I'm sorry," Shoto reiterated, looking at Bakugou this time.

"I not scare," Bakugou said, copying how Izuku used the word. Despite saying this, the blonde was still holding onto Aizawa's pants.

Taishiro nudged Shoto forward, signaling for him to continue that conversation.

"Can we play together again? I promise not to be scary anymore," Todoroki promised, asking for a second chance.

Izuku nodded and Aizawa set him on the floor again. Bakugou let go of the man as well, not wanting to be behind both of them. Still cautious, Izuku held onto Bakugou's shirt as they walked back towards Shoto.

"I forgive Sho. How about a different game? Tag too scare," Izuku suggested, declaring tag to be an outlawed game.

"Oh! I got something for you kids!" Taishiro told them, smiling before running off into the house. Aizawa gave his boys an encouraging thumbs up before returning to his leaning against the house. In their wait, Todoroki stood awkwardly as Bakugou glared at him, the green one might have forgiven him but the blonde seemed to hold a grudge. After a couple of minutes of awkward silence, the big man came out of the house, this time holding a shiny new red ball.

"How about you guys play some ball?" Taishiro suggested purposely leaving the suggestion vague so they could choose their own game to play.

"Ball! Kacchan is really good at that! Show sho! Show Sho the thingy," Izuku spouted off excitedly as Taishiro handed Bakugou the ball.

The blonde smiled as he finally had a chance to show off something he was good at. Without hesitation Bakugou began to bounce the ball on his knee to, his chest, to his heel then back to his knee again, repeating the perfect form of precision and balance. Izuku was awed at his friend's ability and Todoroki's eyebrows furrowed as he began to remember something, but didn't quite catch the memory.

"Your turn," Bakugou said, tossing the ball to Izuku knowing the boy couldn't do it, another attempt to be shown as better.

"Like this?" Izuku questioned, bouncing the ball on the ground and getting a bounce on his knee but somehow in his attempt to pass the ball to his other knee, he lost his footing and fell back on his butt. Bakugou laughed, holding his tummy with one hand and pointing with the other as he made fun of his friend, looking back at Aizawa to see if the man saw. Instead of a proud grin or approving smile, he found that Aizawa shook his head no in disappointment. Seeing his attempt fail, Bakugou stopped laughing and clicked his tongue annoyed instead.

"Oww," Midoryia said, picking himself up but strangely enough he wasn't the one crying.

To everyone's surprise, Todoroki had tears falling from his face. The boy had remembered his big brother, who he had once seen try to do the same thing Bakugou just did but failed like Izuku. He was crying because he remembered that he longed to play with siblings but every time he watched from afar his father pulled him away for more training. Now he has a chance to play but with complete strangers, separated from his siblings but now he doesn't even know how to play.

Seeing the distress on Shoto's face, Taishiro went to console the boy but Aizawa held him back.

"What gives?" Taishiro said harshly.

"You said he has a hard time opening up to you, let's watch what happens with my boys," Aizawa said softly, pointing to Midoryia who looked like he was going to say something.

"Why cry Sho? Hurting? Eye hurting?" Izuku asked but Shoto shook his head no, sniffling and wiping his tears away, his bandage becoming visibly moist.

"No, I wish I could play with my brothers and sister, I miss them," Todoroki admitted, he had always felt divided from them. Mostly because he literally was but also because he hated why he was being kept apart.

"I miss my mommy. But no cry! Soon! Soon we will see! Right Kacchan?" Izuku asked and Bakugou felt his heart sink all over again with that question.

"Soon..." Bakugou said, his voice barely audible.

"Your bandage all wet, it hurting?" Izuku asked one more time.

"No, it doesn't hurt," Todoroki sniffed, regaining his composure.

Taishiro sighed as he realized their attempt for him to open up failed. The kid was pushing away his feelings to hide from them again, not ready to open up about his feelings. Todoroki took off his bandage since it became too moist, revealing his burn to kids.

"Ouchie? How did you get that?" Midoryia asked about the injury. Aizawa had told them not to ask about it but now that the burn was revealed Midoryia had completely forgotten.

"Oh... my momma did it," Todoroki revealed, the concept of personal information not being apparent in his mind. Instantly Taishiro let out some loud coughs to distract everyone.

"Let's not talk about your mom Sho!" The big man called out, earning a questioning raised eyebrow from his friend.

"Your mom?" Izuku questioned, his eyes filled with worry.

"Can't talk about it," Todoroki reiterated Taishiro's words.

Something shifted in Bakugou when he heard Shoto admit to how he got his wound. Up til now, he was holding his head high, trying to get Shoto to realize that he was just as good as he was. The new information shifted his view, he wasn't below Shoto, they were similar in a way.

Todoroki tapped the soles of his feet nervously as the blonde approached him. Katsuki looked him straight in the eyes, causing Shoto to become even more nervous than before. When the blonde raised his hand up, Todoroki flinched, not knowing what was going to happen.

"Safe," Bakugou said softly to the boy, his hand patting Todoroki's bicolored hair.

"Safe?" Todoroki questioned, tensing at Bakugou's touch and unusual soft demeanor.

"Kacchan says you safe now! Kacchan is always right when says safe! Kacchan cares!" Izuku told Shoto, his voice rising and his eyes shining.

"Oh..." Todoroki replied and relaxed into Bakugou's touch, the reality of the past days coming to mind. It was safe here.

"Mister Aizawa is safe too! Very nice! No hits! No yells! No mad! No scare!" Izuku added and Todoroki's eyes widened when Izuku mentioned hits.

Taishiro had pain in his eyes as he thought behind the boy's words, Aizawa however beamed at Midoryia's confidence and trust in him as a caregiver.

"Mister Toyomitsu is safe as well. I don't get hit here not even when I lay down or watch TV," Todoroki shared and Bakugou looked back at Taishiro, deeming him even safer than before.

"Why will get mad for seeing TV!? Or laying down?" Izuku asked in concern.

"My dad didn't like me taking breaks," Todoroki replied.

"Let's not talk about your dad either okay bud?" Taishiro said, feeling the anger levels rising in the silently listening man next to him.

"Is that why you not know how to play? Scare of dad? Kacchan is scare of Auntie. But they not here. Sho's dad not here. So no more scare okay? You can do what you wanna, you can play," Izuku encouraged, grabbing onto Shoto's shirt and looking into his eyes with extreme earnestness.

"He's not here," Bakugou repeated, it was different but close to the same calmness filling the line he knew. 'Nobody's here'

"My dad's not here," Todoroki said, a wave of relief flooding over him as he took account of the words said. It was true. His father was not here calculating his every move forward or drilling nonsensical ideals in his head. He was at Taishiro's house and this house was safe.

"Safe to play! Be yourself Sho!" Izuku told Todoroki, hugging the boy to comfort him. The green-haired boy went overboard with the pressure but Shoto relaxed in the younger's arm, hugging the boy back. Bakugou didn't join in, not being the type but kept his hand patting the boy's head, to show that he was also part of the moment.

"Feeling better?" Izuku asked, letting go of his new friend to look in his eyes. Bakugou also backed away to give the kid some space after all the affection, something he would appreciate.

"Yeah I'm okay," Shoto said, a faint smile on his face as he felt loved and safe in his environment for the first time.

Aizawa didn't find it surprising that Izuku's kind heart asked about Shoto but what he didn't expect was his normally unfriendly Bakugou would be so comforting in his own way. This was a kind act and the blonde needed to be rewarded for compassionate behavior, to be shown that this was something that gave him positive attention.

"I'm glad you boys are getting along, how about we have a snack before you play some more?" Aizawa questioned, pulling out some yogurts from his book bag, they were in a smaller insulated lunch box. Izuku and Bakugou ran over to the man excited to have a snack but Todoroki was much slower.

"These is super yummy! Try it!" Izuku said, handing a yogurt and plastic spoon to Todoroki who grabbed it anxiously.

"Yummy!" Bakugou repeated, his eyes shining as he got the snack he was promised earlier that morning.

Todoroki opened the yogurt container and put his spoon in, looking at the others eating before trying a bite for himself. Taishiro smiled wide as he saw the kid eat something other than cold soba.

The good feeling didn't last long, after a second bite Todoroki left his spoon in the yogurt cup, a sign he wasn't planning to eat another bite. Bakugou like always finished his snack first, scrapping the cup with the spoon to get every last drop.

"Here, you can have mine," Todoroki suggested, handing the blonde his yogurt. Bakugou's eyes shined at the generosity of his new friend.

Taishiro shot a look to Aizawa that said 'See told you so'. It is apparent that the boy took a few bites to be polite, but something forbade him from eating more. It was true that his father wasn't here but his teachings were still locked in the kid's head.

Chapter Text

After their snack, the boys returned outside to the ball lying in the center of the yard. Bakugou picked it up and did his cool tricks again before tossing it to Todoroki. 

"Like this?" Shoto questioned, mimicking Bakugou's moves perfectly. Bakugou nodded, a little jealous from the way Todoroki got the trick down the first time but he kept that emotion down. 

"So cool! I can't do that!" Izuku pouted as Todoroki passed the ball to him. Attempting the trick again, Izuku didn't trip on himself this time but still failed. 

"How about a different game? Something you can all do together?" Aizawa suggested from afar, sensing that Izuku might feel incompetent if they continued the way they were going.

"How about Keep Up?!" Midoryia asked enthusiastically. 

"Keep Up?" Shoto questioned. 

"Yeah! Easy! Gotta keep the ball up!" Izuku said, grabbing the ball and tossing it up to the sky. 

Bakugou was quick to take his turn, hitting the ball up as it returned down. Todoroki saw the pattern and understood the game, hitting the ball up when it was his turn. 

"Yeah! Like that!" Izuku said, bouncing the ball in the air back at Katsuki. 

Bakugou amped up the game, bouncing the ball toward Todoroki's direction but further away. Seeing this, Shoto ran to the ball and stretched out his hand to bounce it, barely making it before the ball hit the ground. 

"Heads up Midoryia!" Todoroki warned as his bounce was inaccurate toward the kid's location. 

Izuku ran to the ball, hitting it up and towards Bakugou who easily bounced it away. Todoroki made his way back in time to hit it again, this time higher and in between the two other boys to see who would hit it first. 

Bakugou took his chance and reached the ball before Izuku, launching the ball up towards Todoroki. To keep it fair, Shoto bounced the ball back to Izuku who quickly bounced it back. Todoroki knew there was a skill gap between Bakugou and Midoryia so for the blonde he tossed it higher and further to create more of a challenge. Katsuki stumbled back and jumped up to reach the ball mid-air and bounced it up to control the momentum. Katsuki smirked as he recognized that Shoto was doing that on purpose to make the game more fun for him. Bakugou's second hit was more forceful, giving Todoroki the same treatment of equity. 

Seizing the challenge, Todoroki chased after the ball and hit it mid-air as Bakugou did, this time putting a lighter touch as he passed it to Izuku. 

"I got it! I got it!" Izuku shouted in glee as he stumbled around to get the ball. 

Todoroki's precise and momentum-killing bounce made it easier for Midoryia to hit it up, ensuring the game would continue. Still, the green-haired boy tried to match their pace, hitting the ball further away from where Bakugou to challenge him. 

Struggling Bakugou jumped for it, the ball barely grazing his fingertips but he launched it just a couple feet up, unfortunately since he landed on his tummy he couldn't get up in time to hit it again. To Bakugou's surprise, Todoroki had made his way over, bouncing the ball just in time to keep it in the game. 

"Nice save!" Izuku squealed as he witnessed the boy's full speed being on display in a game other than chasing him. 

Todoroki smiled at the praise of his ability, it sounded different coming from someone who meant it. Shoto passed the ball to Izuku who bounced it up two times so Bakugou could up before bouncing it to him. They continued the game, recognizing each other's skill level and using different tactics in accordance with it. Izuku would get the easy tosses but Bakugou and Todoroki pushed each other's limits, keeping the ball in the air by a hair at times. 

"He's actually having fun!" Taishiro said in awe as he saw a light in the boy's eyes, a consistent smile on Shoto's face as he played with the boys. 

The game continued for a long while, the boys working as a team to keep the ball off the ground but also testing the limits of their ability to make the game more challenging. Once they found a rhythm, one of the boys would change it to avoid repetition. Steadily they increased the difficulty, tossing the ball higher and faster. Overall the game made them feel accomplished and connected in their teamwork effort to not lose. They found it satisfying the longer they kept the ball in play. 

The first time the ball touched the ground it was Izuku's turn. The green-haired boy had accidentally tossed the ball behind him instead of forwards toward the others. For a second Todoroki's smile faltered but he couldn't stay upset at the boy. 

"Again! again!" Izuku yelled out, running to the ball giggling as he got ready to start the game anew. Shoto's smile returned as he saw the excitement on the kid's face, wanting to continue the fun game. 

The game of Keep Up lasted a long time, all the boys enjoying it immensely for the continuing changing rhythm and pace. Now and then they would drop the ball but Izuku would eagerly start the game up again. It was winter so it wasn't exactly hot out but the sun was still out. Taishiro kindly got a jar of water along with a couple of cups from the house and made them take water breaks to hydrate them. 

"It's about we have lunch isn't it?" Aizawa questioned as he watched the kids play. 

"Don't have to tell me twice! I'll go ahead and cook and call you when it's ready," Taishiro said, heading back into the house and leaving Aizawa to watch over the kids.

Their current game lasted the longest without dropping the ball, a record of fifteen minutes without a mistake. Aizawa was impressed by Todoroki's athleticism, reaching amazing heights as he bounced the ball back like a volleyball. Bakugou was also impressive, catching Shoto's amazing tosses and being able to change the pace for Izuku. Midoryia wasn't as talented as the others but showed clear improvement. In time if he wanted to, Izuku could catch up but for now, it was natural talent versus his hard work. 

After another half hour, in which they lost their record and started up again, Taishiro came out of the house wearing a yellow apron reading "Professional Taste Tester". Aizawa arched an eyebrow at his friend, knowing full well the regular apron the big man wore was black, and said "Kiss The Cook" in pink letters. 

"What! That other one is inappropriate!" Taishiro said defensively, reading his friend's mind. Aizawa rolled his eyes, secretly impressed at Toyomitsu's attention to detail when it came to his job. 

"Come in youngins! Lunch is being served hot!" Tashiro called out, Bakugou losing focus at the mention of food and letting the ball fall in front of him.

"Food?! Yummy food to eat?!" Izuku shouted excitedly, following behind Bakugou as they ran to the adults. Todoroki followed slower behind him, not being enchanted by the promise of a hot meal. There was something metaphorical in that. 

"Yeah! Make sure to thank Taishiro for the yummy meal you're about to eat," Aizawa said, teaching them manners. 

"Thank you Taishio!" Izuku said out loud, the blonde nodding in agreement. 

"Come on Bakugou, use your words. You gotta practice that speech of yours," Aizawa told the blonde who huffed in annoyance, the man didn't want him relying on his quiet communication. 

"Thank you," Bakugou mumbled his words but it was good enough for the man for now. 

"Are you boys hungry yet?" Aizawa asked his kids and on cue, Bakugou's stomach growled. 

"Poor things! Don't worry lunch is ready to eat! Being hungry is unbearable!" Taishiro reassured but Todoroki straightened at the last word. 

Grabbing ahold of the now bandage-less side of his face, Todoroki grimaced in pain. It didn't hurt until now, not until that word was uttered. 

"You okay Sho?" Taishiro asked, seeing a wide-eyed expression on the kid's face. 

"I'm okay," Shoto told him, sucking up his emotions and taking his hand off his face, following everyone inside the house. 

"Aizawa, go ahead and serve your kids. I'm going to rewrap Shoto's bandage, I didn't want it holding in moisture as they played but I should really cover it back up," Taishiro explained and led his kid to the living room to sit him down and apply his medication. 

By the time they came back to the table, Aizawa had set up everyone's plates, even Shoto's and Taishiro's. That being said, Izuku was last to get his plate, anxiously waiting as he saw the others get served on white ceramic plates. 

"Don't worry Izuku, I got your plate right here," Aizawa said, taking out Izuku's preferred divided plate from his computer bag. 

Bakugou waited anxiously biting his chew as he waited for his friend to be served. Cruel on Aizawa's part but it was intentional, he wanted Bakugou to break his habit of eating only after the green boy. 

"It's chicken, broccoli, and white rice! It's really good and healthy for you Shoto, try it!" Taishiro encouraged the boy to eat his food but Todoroki had an unsure face. 

"Hey!" Bakugou called out as Aizawa sat Izuku's plate down. 

"What is it?" Aizawa asked and barely caught the metal fork Bakugou threw to the ground. 

"Bakugou we don't throw things!" Aizawa scolded and the boy huffed, chewing on his crystal. Normally he would be chewing on a plastic fork as he waited for Izuku. 

"Oh, I get it, sorry Bakugou. Still, you should not throw stuff," Aizawa scolded, pulling out Bakugou's plastic fork from his book bag. 

Izuku learned his lesson from the morning and quickly took a bite from his plate, a piece of chicken that was cut up into bites for them. Bakugou seeing his friend begin eating, hurriedly started on his own plate. 

"It's yummy!" Izuku stated, tasting the seasonings Taishiro used and deeming it flavorful. 

"Come on Sho, your friends are eating it. Why don't you take a bite?" Taishiro encouraged and Shoto nervously picked up his fork and grabbed a piece. 

Taking a bite of the food, Shoto eyes widened at the intense flavorful taste. His mouth-watering as he took another two bites but refused another bite of the chicken. Shoto moved on to the broccoli eating the pieces without the sauces Taishiro provided and some of the rice, it was plain rice too. But that was it. 

"Not hungry?" Izuku asked as he saw Todoroki push away his plate. 

"It's different. I don't think I'm allowed to eat the good-tasting stuff," Todoroki explained and Taishiro regretted not cooking a plain piece for Shoto.

"You want your Soba?" Taishiro asked and Shoto nodded, eyes shining in anticipation of his favorite meal. 

Taishiro picked up the boy's plate and dumped the leftovers on his own plate. Taishiro pulled out some freshly made soba he made as a backup in case he didn't eat his meal and placed it in front of Shoto along with some sides of green onion and the sauce. 

Unknowingly Todoroki picked up some viewers. Bakugou watched as he continued eating, curious about what the boy was consuming. Izuku however was more interested in the chopsticks, watching Todoroki use them without a struggle. 

"You good at that!" Izuku praised, catching Todoroki's attention mid-slurp. 

"The chopsticks? I use them all the time," Shoto said, dipping his second bite of noodles into the sauce and slurping it up. 

"Can I try? Can I get the sticks?" Midoryia asked, wanting to try his hand on the utensils. 

"Me too!" Bakugou spoke up, not wanting to fall behind. 

"But Bakugou you finished your plate already," Aizawa said, a little concerned about how the blonde devoured his food without him noticing to correct his speed. 

"Want to try some soba? I made lots for Sho!" Taishiro offered and Bakugou nodded. 

When Taishrio handed Bakugou the plate of Soba and a dish of sauce there was a look of excitement on his face at the thought of trying a new food. Handing him the chopsticks, the blonde clamped them together but failed to pick up a single noodle. 

"Me too!" Midoryia whined as he got forgotten about. 

"Oops sorry! Here you go bud," Taishiro apologized and handed the kid a pair of chopsticks as well. 

Midoriya's try on the chopsticks was even more pitiful as the boy struggled to even keep the sticks from overlapping. Bakugou kept looking back to Todoroki and his effortless approach to using the utensils. Observing Shoto's movements and hand placement, Bakugou mimicked it and picked up a piece of soba. 

"Good job Bakugou," Aizawa praised as Bakugou shakily brought a piece of soba to the sauce but he was praised too soon. The chopsticks overlapped and the noodle fell into the sauce. 

"Fuck!" Bakugou cursed as he watched the noddle drown in the sauce. All eyes turned to him, even Todoroki had a surprised look at the boy's use of colorful language. 

"Bakugou I said no swearing! Those are bad words!" Aizawa scolded and the boy just ignored him, giving a huff before trying to get the noodle out with his shaky chopstick handling. 

"Like this?" Izuku asked, managing to get a piece of chicken in between the chopsticks but his form was all wrong. 

"As long as you get the food in your mouth that's a win!" Taishiro encouraged and Izuku shakily brought the piece of food to his mouth. 

"Did it!" Izuku said, smiling as he chewed on the chicken as he 'successfully' used the chopsticks. 

Bakugou on the other hand was struggling to use the chopsticks correctly. Aizawa thought that he would give up out of frustration and eat the soba with his fork but the boy was persistent in getting it right. After a couple minutes of struggling Bakugou finally got a grip on the soba and shakily raised it to his mouth to take a bite. 

"Hhh," Bakugou made a sharp inhale as an unexpected spicy flavor invaded his senses. 

"Oh, man! That must be the wrong sauce! I'm so sorry Bakugou! Do you want some ice water?! Shhh-oot I'm sorry Shouta!" Taishiro panicked as he apologized, ironically almost saying a bad word, he ran to grab a cup of water with ice for the blonde. 

"I ask you to be more careful next time but it's not a big deal. I think he likes it, don't you Bakugou?" Aizawa asked calmly and Bakugou nodded, his chopsticks skills seeming to improve exponentially with the drive of tasty food. 

"Yummy!" Bakugou said, picking the soba and dipping it excessively in the spicy sauce. 

"Here you go kid," Taishiro said, putting the ice water next to Bakugou but the blonde shook his head no. 

"Is it really spicy?" Aizawa asked, watching Bakugou's eyes water a bit. 

"Just a bit but for a kid it might be too much. I made a batch of sauce with red pepper paste, it wasn't a lot so it didn't affect the color much. That's why I didn't catch it being the wrong sauce," Taishiro explained, guilt on his face as he thought about what could've happened if Katsuki didn't like it. 

"Bakugou seems to like spicy food, he swapped his cheeseburger with my spicy chicken sandwich yesterday and loved it, but I think he likes this spicy soba even more," Aizawa admitted, watching Bakugou's face turn red as he over-spiced himself, hurriedly drinking some of the ice water Taishrio provided. 

"Soba is pretty yummy right?!" Todoroki said, catching everyone off guard with the enthusiasm in his voice. 

"Yummy!" Bakugou agreed, slurping up a huge portion of noodles he managed to snag between the chopsticks. 

"Cold soba is my favorite!" Todoroki shared the fact about himself, slurping up some noodles loudly to show it to be true.  

"Way to go Bakugou, you're so good for not being picky," Taishiro complimented and Aizawa jabbed harshly at the man's side. 

"Ow, what gives," Taishrio said in a whisper, the kids unaware of the hit. 

"Don't say stuff like that, you're going to make your kid feel ashamed," Aizawa whispered harshly. Taishiro shot a worried eye at Shoto but Todoroki was none the wiser, instead the boy was happily slurping his soba. 

Izuku was only a third way done with his plate but saw the cheerful mood Shoto was in and wanted to fit in too. 

"Can I has some?" Izuku asked meekly and Bakugou immediately tried to share his Soba. Izuku opened his mouth as the blonde was about to feed him but Aizawa quickly discouraged it. 

"Let's try some regular soba first! Bakugou's soba might be a little too spicy for you," Aizawa told them, reaching forward and blocking the blonde from sharing his portion. 

"Spicy?" Izuku asked and Bakugou nodded as he ate the noodles he was going to share. 

"Here have some of mine!" Todoroki said his voice filled with enthusiasm. 

Shoto expertly used his chopsticks skills to grab a single noodle for Midoryia to try and dumped it in some normal sauce before giving it to the boy. Izuku opened wide and took a bite, slurping the noodle up and chewing slowly. 

"Yummy! It's nice and cool!" Izuku complimented, talking with his mouth full. 

"It must be refreshing after running around outside," Taishiro speculated, getting up to serve a small portion for Midoryia on a separate plate. 

"Can't say the same for Bakugou's," Aizawa chuckled as he watched the boy huff and puff, his eyes watering but still he continued to dip the soba until it was fully covered in the spicy sauce.

Aizawa decided this was a picture-perfect moment and took out his phone. Focusing the camera on Bakugou's sniffling nose and taking a shot of the boy's red face. The man chuckled to himself and made a note to add it to the report to show that the kid loved spice.

Chapter Text

After lunch, the kids were eager to go outside again to continue their game of Keep Up. When they exited the back door even Todoroki ran to get the ball into play, it seemed like he had found his new favorite activity. 

"Me! I wanna do it!" Midoryia yelled out in distraught as the other two boys easily passed him. 

"Too slow!" Bakugou teased as he was in arm's reach of the ball. 

However, Todoroki was right behind him, and instead of wasting time bending down to pick up the ball, Shoto used his foot to steal it from the blonde's grasp. Taking Midoryia's request, Todoroki kicked the ball toward the kid who picked it up in delight. Bakugou huffed angrily about the stolen ball but didn't stay mad long since Izuku immediately started the game. 

"Ready! Set! Go!" Midoryia shouted as he threw the ball high into the air, Todoroki and Bakugou running to be the first to hit it. 

"Smells like rain," Aizawa muttered as he took his place leaning against the house. 

"Looks like some clouds are coming in," Taishiro agreed as the bright day seemed to turn grayer. 

The adults decided to let the kids have as much fun as they could before the rain started pouring. As the game started Taishrio noticed that Shoto was less coordinated than he was before lunch. The kid had dropped the ball for the first time thanks to Bakugou's challenging throws. But that was to be expected after bandaging his eye again, he must have lost his depth perception. Although it didn't falter his movements for long, the boy shortly got used to the handicap and Bakugou also readjusted his throws to compensate. 

"Heads up Bakugou! I'm going to throw this one really high!" Todoroki warned before hitting the red ball hard. 

Bakugou ran to catch up to the ball but then he swiftly skidded to a stop, the ball landing yards away from him. Confused both Midoryia and Todoroki walked over to see what had caused the boy to stop. 

"Ah." Bakugou made a sound as he bent down to take a closer look at the thing he found. 

"Snake?" Todoroki questioned as he saw a reptilian head appear from the grass. 

"Snake?!" The adults repeated in concern. 

"SNAKE?!?" Izuku screamed out in distressed, flapping his hands and jumping up and down. 

"Shhh!" Bakugou shushed the green-haired boy angrily as he bent down to take an even closer look. 

The adults were across the yard the instant Shoto said the word snake. To their relief, it wasn't a big venomous beast ready to take a bite into their children. 

"That's not a snake buddy," Taishiro sighed in relief at the little creature in the grass. 

"That's a common garden lizard," Aizawa reassured them, unwrapping his scarf from Bakugou's leg. It was there to pull the kid far away in case it was a dangerous snake, the blonde didn't even notice the cloth on him till Aizawa called it away. 

"It safe? No bite?" Izuku asked, sneaking up behind Bakugou for a closer look. 

"I think they can bite but it's too small," Todoroki hypothesized as he also bent down to look at the thing. 

The lizard snapped itself left to right as it saw it was being observed, revealing more of itself from the sea of grass. It was a light brown lizard with a darker brown making lines across its body. 

"Wow! Look at the tail!" Izuku pointed out excitedly as the lizard moved around, the tail was twice as long as its body. 

Bakugou being the fearless one made a grab for the lizard but the prey instincts kicked in for the little fella and it easily dodged and ran away. 

"Kacchan grab it!" Izuku shouted hopping on his feet in excitement. 

Bakugou chased the lizard and didn't miss the second time he reached for it. Lizard in hand, Katsuki smiled wide and raised it in the air to show the caregivers, the proudest look on his face. 

"So cool Kacchan! Let me see! Let me see!" Midoryia chanted as the blonde walked the animal closer to him. 

"Does it feel slimy?" Todoroki asked, eye widened as the blonde approached them with the creature. 

"No." Bakugou answered simply then added, "It cold and funny." 

The lizard was probably cold due to the sudden drop in temperature and the blonde could probably feel the subtle textures of its scales contributing to a funny feeling in his fingertips. 

"Can I touch?" Midoryia asked, his index finger becoming shaky as he tried to touch the thing. 

"Eeee!" Izuku squealed as the lizard began to struggle in Katsuki's grip, shaking side to side rapidly and opening its mouth. 

"It's gunna bite!" Todoroki warned, an increasing urgency in his voice as he too felt Izuku's anxiety. 

The lizard bit into Katsuki's finger but the blonde just giggled at the little guy's attempt to escape. The scales moving around on his skin gave Katsuki textured joy at the soft tickle feeling. 

"No hurt?" Midoryia asked and Bakugou shook his head no. 

"Like Sho said, it's too small," Aizawa reassured them. 

"Can I hold it?" Todoroki asked and Bakugou moved his hand to pass the lizard. 

The movement scared the lizard, causing it to squirm around again. Katsuki let the Lizard drop into the Shoto's hand and the bicolored boy grasped onto it easily. The kid only held onto it for a couple of seconds before Izuku decided he was brave enough to try to hold the reptile too. 

"Let me! Let me!" Izuku shouted excitedly and held out his hands. 

Todoroki handed Izuku the lizard but then the green-haired boy moved his open palms away. There was hesitation in his green eyes as he had second thoughts on touching it. Deciding to hold it by the least surface area possible, Midoryia reached to grab the lizard's tail with his fingers. The instant his finger gripped the tail the lizard went haywire, squirming and struggling even harder than before. 

"EEEE!" Midoryia practically screeched as Todoroki let go, the lizard flailing around before falling to the ground.

 However, despite being on the ground, the tail had unattached from the main body, leaving Izuku with a squirming tail in hand. Being freaked out, Midoryia let go of the tail and flapped his hands around as he squealed. Bakugou giggled at the boy's distress as he quickly went to re-catch the lizard. 

"Did I hurt it?" Izuku cried out as he calmed down, Todoroki poking at the seemingly possessed tail. 

"No darling, they just do that when they get scared," Aizawa reassured. 

"Will it die?" Todoroki asked bleakly and  Midoryia's eyes widened with tears.

"No no, it will be fine. It just needs to eat a couple of bugs and it will grow back the tail in no time kiddo," Taishiro took his turn to soothe the kid. 

"Can we feed him?" Midoryia asked pouting as Bakugou brought back the lizard, the tiniest bit of blood on its fresh wound. 

"Yeah, sure! Let me get a jar so you guys can see it without hurting the poor thing more," Taishrio suggested running inside to grab the supplies. 

By the time Taishiro got out the boys were spread across the yard, looking for bugs to feed the reptile. The poor lizard being dragged and bumped around as Bakugou searched with it still in hand. 

"Come on over!" Aizawa called out and the boys ran back to their side. 

Taishiro bent down and let Bakugou place the lizard in the empty transparent plastic jar. The boys watched as the lizard ran around the jar but failed to get a grip on the slippery plastic. Giggling Izuku tapped the jar and the lizard opened its mouth, threatening to bite. 

"Did you guys find any food?" Aizawa asked and they all shook their heads no. 

"Figures with the lack of plants around,"  Aizawa took a stab at his friend's backyard, even patches of the backyard had some bald spots. 

"Listen man I tried I just don't have a green thumb like you!" Taishrio argued, talking about his failed hedges in the front of the yard that turned into dried-up twigs. Aizawa smiled smugly as he thought about the flowers and vegetation thriving at his place. 

"You have a green thumb mister Aizawa?" Shoto asked, looking closer at the man's hands. 

"Not literally, it just means I'm good at keeping plants alive," Aizawa explained and the boy nodded. 

"Yeah! So many flowers at that house! Really good at making flowers!" Izuku exclaimed enthusiastically as he thought about their stroll through the backyard the other day. 

"Hey! His food!" Bakugou spoke up, huffing in annoyance.

The blonde reminded them about their main objective, feeding the little creature in the jar. 

"Oh, I know!" Taishiro said, pointing at the side of the doorway where a light was in need of some dusting. 

There in between the light and the wall, there was a spider web and in the web a spider. Everyone, including Taishrio, watched in horror as Aizawa didn't hesitate to reach up and grab the spider barehanded. 

"It's gunna bite!" 

"Doesn't it bite?" 

Izuku and Todoroki both voiced their concern at the same time but all Aizawa did was chuckle at their looks of horror. Spider tightly clasped in his fist, Aizawa safely transported it until dropping it in the jar to the spider's untimely demise. Taishrio quickly tightened the lid as the spider crawled up to try to escape, being forward-thinking, the big man had already made holes in the lid. 

"Look! Look!" Midoryia called out as he saw the lizard immediately chomp down on the spider. 

"Cool!" Bakugou said, his eyes shining as he saw the lizard chew and swallow the bug. 

"It's just nature," Shoto said dryly, but his eye was shining as well as he observed said nature for the first time in detail. 

Just then the rain rolled in, they heard it before it got to them. The big loud droplets hit hard on the neighboring roofs and objects outside. A couple of drops hit them as the wind picked up and threw the water droplets their way. 

"Rain!" Midoryia called out as a drop fell on the tip of his nose. 

Taishiro hurriedly rushed everyone inside, closing the door behind him just in time before the rain could get them. 

"We have to play inside now, To- I mean Sho can you show them the living room?" Taishiro asked, stumbling over the last of his sentence as he almost revealed Shoto's last name.

Aizawa raised a suspicious eyebrow at his friend at his unusual stutter but Taishrio ignored his gaze as he went to boil water for some tea for them. Luckily for Aizawa, unlike the outside of Taishiro's house, the inside had no shortage of chairs. Sitting down at the dining table, Aizawa kept watch on the boys as he let them mingle amongst themselves. 

Izuku did his usual routine of counting around the living room before following Todoroki as the boy turned on the television. Bakugou made himself comfortable quickly as he climbed Taishiro's couch to sit down. The boys quickly followed his lead and climbed the seats to sit down as well, Bakugou ending up in the middle as the others sat on his sides. Katsuki was used to Izuku sitting close but straightened up when Todoroki sat next to him as well, only a couple of centimeters from touching. 

"That's not what I had in mind when I said play inside," Taishiro sighed as he saw that his kid had turned on the television. 

"Should we not?" Todoroki questioned, looking back at the man with a pout. 

"No it's okay, you boys don't mind right?" Aizawa said and his boys shook their heads no, their energy was wiped from the outside play. 

Taishiro was glad the boys didn't mind and were about to relax when he heard the water boiling in his kettle. Quickly he went to turn it off before it whistled, in the past days he accidentally triggered a flashback in which Shoto became frantic at the sound. Anxiously Taishiro hid the hot kettle in the sink out of view, knowing it would damage the sink but he would rather have a destroyed sink than see Todoroki break down again. Taishiro sighed in relief as he saw Shoto flip through the channels to find some cartoons, unaware that the kettle was being used. Instead of cartoons a flash of the number one hero caught the boys' attention instead. 

"Allmight!" All three boys said in unison as they saw their favorite hero on television. Taishrio laughed out loud as he saw the kids give Shoto wide-eyed looks. 

"You like Allmight?!" Midoryia asked and Todoroki nodded. 

"Kacchan likes Allmight too! And me too!" Midoryia explained but before they could say more the television mentioned their hero. 

"Just moments ago a villain terrorized this neighborhood as they destroyed half the homes trying to escape a failed attempt of a robbery! But Allmight caught the villain in minutes as he stumbled upon the chaos!" The news reporter covered the story as they ran to the scene of the crime, Allmight holding down the villain as he waited for the cops to arrive. 

"Winner is Allmight!" Bakugou said proudly, his arms raised in a victory fist. 

"Of course! The strongest hero!" Midoryia agreed shaking his fist and rocking in his seat.

"I want to be a hero like Allmight," Todoroki said, his mouth forming a soft smile as he remembered the time his mother encouraged him. 

The camera was shaky as many rivaling news anchors tried to get Allmight's attention. Each of them asking questions for the Pro-hero to answer but each of their voices combines into an unintelligible swirl of noise. The man was just too popular. 

Taishiro served Aizawa hot tea as everyone watched the news on Allmight. Aizawa clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes, he liked Allmight sure as a hero but he thought the number one hero did too much promotional work always appearing everywhere on television and in advertisements. The man thought back to the time he was working on getting his license, wanting to be an underground hero to get into the deeper cases but despite graduating U.A. he didn't end up being a hero at all. 

"I only got one thing to say to all those posing a threat like this villain!" Allmight said out loud, most in an attempt to quiet the bombardment of the press. The kids on the couch straightened up as they sensed the iconic line was about to be said. 

"I a-" 

"I AM HERE," All three boys said in unison but their hero didn't get to finish the line. 

A flash of lightning blinded everyone as it illuminated the window, the ground shaking as it struck right outside. The power went out and the rain seemed to pour harder at that exact second. It was overly dark for the time of day thanks to the storm clouds outside and the lights didn't come back on. 

"It dark!" Midoryia cried out and Aizawa turned on his flashlight on his way over. 

"I'll get some light!" Taishiro called out as his friend checked on the kids. 

Walking over with the flashlight of his phone, Aizawa saw two and a half pairs of eyes shining as he approached. Izuku was holding onto Bakugou, pushing back on the couch to try to get behind the blonde. That was expected, what was unexpected and quite adorable in Aizawa's mind was Katsuki who had a hand across Todoroki's chest, pushing the boy back to make sure he stayed in place. 

"It's okay guys, the lights will be on soon. Lighting must have blown a power line outside is all," Aizawa explained, Todoroki being the only one who nodded since he wasn't scared. 

"I got light!" Taishiro announced as he came out of the hallway, a humongous flashlight in hand. Setting the light on the dining room table, the big man faced it toward the living room for the kids. 

"I also have this one," Taishiro said, handing Shoto a kid's mini battery-powered lantern. 

"Can I hold it?" Midoryia asked meekly, wanting the light to be closer to him. 

"Here you go," Shoto passed him the lantern, Bakugou's hand leaving his vicinity as he deemed it unnecessary. 

Despite the green one being the most obvious distressed one, Aizawa was more keen on Bakugou's silent signs. The blonde had wide eyes that darted at every dark corner and his breathing was too fast, like he had a reason to be afraid. 

"It's okay you're safe," Aizawa quietly reassured as he patted his boys on the head, Bakugou accepting the gentle touch. 

"You good bud?" Taishiro asked Shoto and the boy nodded. 

"I'm not scared of the dark," Todoroki said and instantly Bakugou straightened up. 

"I not scared!" The blonde declared, swiping Aizawa's hands away as he relaxed back into the couch with a huff. 

"Me either!" Midoryia lied, holding the lantern tight to his chest.

"Guess you guys have to do something else, maybe try out those toys I bought you Shoto," Taishiro suggested and Todoroki nodded.

As the adults went back for their tea, the boys followed Todoroki as he led them, Izuku lighting the way by holding out the lantern. Still, despite the light Shoto tripped over an obstacle but quickly caught himself. 

"You okay?" Midoryia asked as he lit up the object on the ground. 

"Yeah, just tripped over this book. I was practicing my reading before you guys came," Shoto explained the reasoning of the book being in the center of the living room. 

"You read?! Can read words?" Midoryia asked excitedly and Bakugou picked up the book, handing it to Shoto with expectant eyes. 

"Yeah, just small words, I'm still learning," Shoto explained as he turned the book over to the cover. 

"What say?" Bakugou questioned as he pointed to the title. 

"The title is 'I Can Puh plaaaay play too'," Todoroki read out the title as he pointed at the word, struggling a bit to read the word play. 

"Can you read it now? To me and Kacchan?" Midoryia asked and Bakugou nodded in agreement, both of them using their puppy dog eyes. 

"Yeah, sure!" Shoto agreed and Izuku shook his first up and down and giggled with excitement, the light shaking along with him. 

Todoroki walked them back to the couch and sat down in the middle. Izuku sat on Shoto's left and Katsuki decided it would be better to sit on Shoto's right instead of being next to Izuku to see the book better. Izuku was not afraid to cozy up next to Todoroki but Bakugou made sure they weren't touching. 

Shoto flipped the book to the first page, reading to the boys and trying not to stutter on words he didn't know off the bat. Midoryia and Bakugou didn't mind that Todoroki had to slow down his reading to sound out the words but they did huff in disapproval as Shoto flipped the pages himself. Seeing this Shoto used the system where one would flip the page then the other after them. 

"I wuhant want to puh... puah," Shoto struggled on the word play again, not being able to remember which A sound it used. 

"Play," Bakugou helped out the boy and everyone's eyes were on him. 

"Kacchan! You can read? Why never say!" Midoryia asked, his eyes filled with questions about the boy he thought he knew. 

"Can't." The blonde said denying it. 

"But you read the word! Before I did!" Shoto questioned him a bit of disbelief in his voice. 

"Can't read, just front big letters!" Bakugou insisted. 

"You remembered the characters for the word play?" Aizawa theorized and Bakugou nodded, confirming he didn't actually read it but unintentionally memorized the letters in the specific order and what it symbolized. 

"See! Can read!" Midoryia said with a little pout at his friend's secret talent. 

"That's not really reading, but you do have a good memory," Aizawa corrected.

"Oooo! With a super good memory like that, you're going to be a promising student one day Bakugou!" Taishiro hyped the blonde one and Katsuki held his chin high with a smile, Izuku on the other hand frowned. 

"Midoryia is pretty good with numbers, I have no doubt he'll excel in school as well," Aizawa added with more pep in his voice for emphasis. 

Midoryia got his smile back and he nodded in agreement, counting his fingers out loud to show that he indeed knew numbers. Bakugou however clicked his tongue annoyed and shushed the boy. 

"Read," Bakugou demanded Shoto to continue reading, putting the collar of his shirt in his mouth to chew on. 

"Oh yeah.... the snake is saying I can play too," Todoroki read off the page. 

The boy continued reading, from what Aizawa gathered it was about a snake that wanted to play catch with a pig and elephant but since it didn't have arms they were struggling to figure out how to play together. 

"How gunna play with no arms?" Izuku questioned, a yawn escaping his lips in turn causing Bakugou to yawn. 

That's when Aizawa realized that this reading session might end up being a snoozing session. Unintentionally they had set up a perfect scenario for the boys to fall asleep. Being three-year-olds granted almost four, they were still at the age where they take naps. They had just eaten lunch so their bellies were full, the rain was making perfect white noise, and despite it being midday the dark clouds made it very dim inside. But of course, the final nail of the coffin was, that they were on a soft couch being read a story. 

"I can tar-e try, said the snake, Coool! I will thuhareOwuh throw the buh ball said the elephant, try to cat.. catch it said the pig," Todoroki continued the story, trying hard on his reading skills. Izuku started to lean off Shoto as he read to him, the exhaustion of playtime weighing on him. 

"Hehare here combs comes the b-ball said the elephant, Boink!" Shoto said the sound effect and Izuku giggled, waking up as the funny part of the book became apparent. 

Bakugou huffed in amusement but was struggling to stay awake, eyes watery as he yawned again. Todoroki continued reading and Izuku almost dozed off until another funny part appeared. 

"Moare more balls? Said the snake," Todoroki voiced the snake with a concerned tone, catching the green-haired boy's interest. 

As soon as Shoto turned the page Izuku started to giggle as an attack of  tennis balls rained on the poor snake with a funny face. What sent Midoryia into a full-blown laugh was when Shoto tried to read every tiny 'boink' on the page in rapid succession of each other. Even Bakugou let out a couple of chuckles as he leaned on Todoroki for a better view. 

Shoto continued the book and the boys listened, regretting making a fuss about turning the pages because now they were too tired to. Each time Shoto would finish reading the page one of the boys would sluggishly flip the paper to the next one. 

"I lohvE, love playing catch with my friends, that's it," Todoroki finished the story, the animals solving the problem by playing catch with the snake as the ball to be included. It was a funny ending to a funny book but not funny enough to get more giggles from Izuku. 

Bakugou was the one to yawn this time, unapologetically leaning even more into Shoto. The blonde had found that leaning against Todoroki felt nice and cool against his skin which was great for someone who gets hot easily. Izuku yawned after him, but he was more bold, embracing Shoto's arm like a plush. Except Shoto didn't feel cool to him, to Izuku Shoto was warm and cozy which was great for someone like him that gets cold easily.

That's why Bakugou and Midoryia liked to sleep next to each other, they are so compatible. Bakugou gets hot easily but Midoryia would always steal that warmth, creating a perfect temperature between the two. However, it now seemed Todoroki was the missing link, his hidden quirk making him a warm and cool person. 

"You okay there Sho?" Taishiro called out with a chuckle as the boy lost his personal space. 

"Yeah..." Shoto said, looking at the kids who were basically sleeping on him. Seeing that he was trapped the boy took a big relaxing breath and sunk back further on the couch, the book falling off his lap and to the floor as it was forgotten. 

Luckily the rain seemed to die down, light shining in through the windows as the dark clouds passed, taking the rain with it. It was then that Aizawa decided that they should go home. 

"I better head home now before the rain picks up again," Aizawa told his friend, standing up to save Shoto from his boys’ snuggling. 

"Yeah I say run and take your chance now," Taishiro agreed and got up to walk the man out. 

"Come on, wake up guys we are leaving," Aizawa said, ruffling their hair to get them to rise. Bakugou grumbled annoyed and tried to hide his face into Shoto's literal cold shoulder. 

"Izuku, come on," Aizawa tried but the boy held on tighter to Todoroki's arm. 

"I don't mind," Shoto said, giving the man the option to leave them where they were. 

"We still have to go before the rain comes back," Aizawa explained, finding it sweet the boy tried to sacrifice his own comfort. 

Aizawa shook Midoryia's hand in an attempt to loosen the boy's fist and it worked, the green-haired boy whimpering as he lost his warmth. Looking up at Aizawa with sleepy eyes, Izuku motioned his hands up to be picked up. Before the boy could change his mind, Aizawa scooped him up and Midoryia quickly hung on and rested his chin on the man's shoulder, his eyes closing as he gave in. 

"Time for bye-bye Bakugou," Aizawa told the blonde as he ruffled his hair to get him alert. 

Bakugou tried to smack the man's hands away but he was too sluggish to be a threat. Yawning and stretching, Katsuki got himself up and off the couch as he saw that his friend was already taken prisoner. 

"We had a good time, we should get our boys together for another play date," Aizawa said as he walked towards the front door, Taishrio helping him put his bag on. 

"Yeah for sure! Tomorrow if you're up for it! Oh and don't forget the lizard! I put it in your bag," Taishiro warned. 

"What why?" 

"I'm sure the little guy would be happier in your garden instead of mine, now hurry out! I have no doubt that rain is coming back!" Taishiro said, opening the door and sure enough there was another wave of dark clouds coming from the direction of Aizawa's house. 

Aizawa thanked the big man for his time and said goodbye to Todoroki as well. 

"Bye-bye," Izuku started as he heard the farewells using the last of his energy to wave, "love you shhhhoo-nicchan," Midoryia slurred the rest before knocking out fully. 

"Bye-bye," Bakugou mimicked, stumbling as he followed Aizawa out the door. 

"Bye!" Shoto called out to his new friends, a little pout forming. 

"Here take this!" Taishrio said as he opened and handed an umbrella to Aizawa. 

Aizawa thanked him and looked at the clouds, seeing that they had a minimum of a couple minutes before the rain started up again. The man came to the conclusion that he would have to carry Bakugou and make a run for it, they didn't have the time for his small steps. 

Fourtanely Aizawa didn't have to convince Bakugou to carry him because the blonde decided he didn't want to walk home. Instead, he pulled on Aizawa's pants and raised his arms to be picked up, a pout as he struggled to keep his eyes open. 

"Need help?" Taishiro asked, and Aizawa nodded glad he was still at the door. 

Taishiro tried to pick up Katsuki to transfer him to Aizawa's but the blonde aggressively refused. Seeing the boundary Bakugou put, Aizawa handed Taishiro the umbrella before kneeling, the blonde hopping on his arm and hanging onto him like Izuku was. With both hands supporting the boys, Aizawa had no choice but to make the run without the umbrella. 

"We'll see you soon! Thanks for everything," Aizawa said his final goodbye. 

"Wait a second, Bakugou sweetie do you want to hold the umbrella for Mister Aizawa? It will help a lot," Taishrio tried, seeing that the blonde was still conscious. 

"Such a good helper! Bye-bye now," Taishiro complimented as Katsuki held on tight to the umbrella, he was holding it all crooked but it would do in a pinch. 

"I'm off!" Aizawa said as he dashed back to his house, Taishiro entering back to his house to return to Todoroki. 

Aizawa ran as fast as he could back to his house, taking precautions not to slip on the wet sidewalk. Midoryia grumbled angrily as he was jostled around on the man's chest, grumpy at being awakened. Aizawa was sure he looked ridiculous, running in the middle of a storm with a book bag and carrying two boys, one of whom was swinging an umbrella around behind him. 

Thankfully Aizawa didn't need the umbrella, his speed bringing him to the house before the rain came back. It seemed Bakugou was trying his best to hold onto the umbrella because as soon as they entered the house the thing fell to the floor. 

"Alright you can rest now," Aizawa assured them as he plopped them on the couch, Midoryia grumbling angrily again before adjusting himself to fall asleep. Bakugou also had enough, quickly finding his place next to the boy and promptly falling asleep. 

Aizawa put his book bag down on the coffee table and took out the jar with the lizard. It would be a shame if he forgot it and the boys found it dead later, so he placed it on the coffee table, holes exposed to fresh air. The rain made the air chiller so he went to bring the boys a blanket from their room, tossing it over them and tucking them in. Sighing, Aizawa sat down on the loveseat and decided to take a nap as well. The pitter-patter of rain began anew as the storm came back for a second round.

Chapter Text

Pat pat smack

Aizawa awakened with the sound, his back aching from the position he was sitting in. Opening his eyes the man found that the cat had found their lizard friend. Lady, the cat, was sitting on the coffee table and patting it ever so carefully. The lizard inside ran around its tiny enclosure with each hit, looking for an escape.

"No Lady, he's a friend," Aizawa said as the cat continued to softly pat at the jar. 

Looking at the time on the wall clock Aizawa saw that they had been asleep for over an hour which meant the boys would awaken soon. Looking over to them Aizawa saw boys sleeping peacefully under a warm blanket. Bakugou was face up, limbs sprawled around as Izuku was curled next to him, getting the most of the blonde's warmth.

Smack smack

Aizawa clicked his tongue to get his cat's attention off the lizard but she continued to smack the jar with increasing intensity. Instead of getting the cat's attention, Bakugou stirred at the sound and sat up, rubbing his eyes. Izuku grumbled something incoherent as empty cold air replaced his friend's place. 

Smack Smack Thud

Lady had successfully managed to smack the jar across the table and to the floor. Luckily the container didn't break apart because it was made of plastic. But the lizard was less than lucky, Lady jumped off the table and continued to smack the jar around, the poor creature inside tumbling around. 

"Lady!" The boys said in unison as they looked at the cause of the ruckus. The cat jumped up in surprise at their voices, her tail fluffing up as she got scared. 

"Her tail! Her tail big!" Izuku pointed out with a smile, fully awake now as he sat up. 

The cat stared at them with wide pupils, unsure about the kids since their last interaction. Lady was still getting used to her home invaders so she was hiding more often than not and only came out when they were sleeping. 

"Lizard okay?" Midoryia asked as the cat crouched down next to the jar. 

"Yeah he's alive, we should put him out before Lady hurts him," Aizawa suggested and got up from his seat stretching, seeing this the boys copied his movements and stretched as well. 

Bakugou jumped off the couch and walked slowly to Lady, approaching her with his hand out to pet her. The cat however was not in the mood and quickly ran away, running to the hall and into Aizawa's room to hide again. 

"Come on let's go," Aizawa urged them on as he grabbed the jar from the floor. 

The boys followed him out through the back door, the air still humid from the rain. The grass was moist with tiny droplets on each blade and the sky was completely covered in light grey clouds. The storm was over for now but it looked like it wanted to rain some more, perhaps later in the night. 

"Where putting lizard friend?" Midoryia asked as Aizawa led them to the vegetable garden in the center, the boys not getting a chance to explore it the other day. 

"I think he would do great with the vegetables, our lizard friend here will keep the bad bugs away," Aizawa stated as he stopped in front of some tomato plants, their fruits small and unripe. 

"Food plants?" Bakugou questioned, touching the green spheres on the plant but not picking them. 

"Yeah! These grow food but it's not ready yet, they still need time to grow," Aizawa explained as the boys examined the tomato plant growing on a piece of picketed fence. 

Aizawa opened the jar and grabbed the lizard, the creature scrambling in his hands as it fought for its freedom. Seeing this Izuku squealed and flapped his hands, remembering the unpleasant sensation from earlier today. Bakugou giggled at Midoryia's expression, as the man let the squirming lizard down on a leaf. 

"Aizawa! Send picture to Sho! So he know lizard safe!" Izuku suggested as the lizard climbed up a couple of leaves and stayed still, looking at them. 

"That's a great idea! Get together and point at it, smile for the picture," Aizawa instructed as he took out his phone putting on the camera. 

Izuku smiled wide and pointed up to the lizard, his eyes shining with excitement. Bakugou also pointed up at the lizard however his smile was obviously forced, which was a shame, the man found his real smile very soft. Regardless Aizawa snapped the picture and sent it to Taishiro, explaining the boys wanted to show Shoto the lizard was safe. 

"Let me see! Let me see!" Midoryia called out as soon as he heard the picture snap.

Aizawa handed Izuku the phone and he giggled at the picture of himself, Bakugou looking as well but being more discreet about it, peering from behind Midoryia. Despite doing so Aizawa saw the blonde's face drop to a frown as he saw himself in the picture, instantly the man knew it had to do with his crooked smile and yellow teeth. It was like a punch in the gut seeing someone so young hate the appearance of themselves. 

Ding

Izuku giggled in delight as a message appeared, a picture of Todoroki doing a thumbs up with a shaky smile, from the contents of it they were enjoying a game of checkers. Another message appeared under it, this time words that the kids couldn't read. 

"Play?" Bakugou questioned as he looked at the words on the screen. 

"What say?" Izuku asked handing the phone back to the man. 

"It says, Todoroki says that he's glad the lizard is safe and he can't wait to play with you two again," Aizawa relayed the message to them but was more shocked that Bakugou had kept the memory of recognizing the word play. 

The man was in a debate about whether he should praise the boy of his memory. Because if he only reads by memorizing words he's not going to learn how to actually read. Aizawa decided to write this down as a warning in his report, they will have to keep a close eye on Bakugou when he is learning how to read. 

"We go with Sho tomorrow?" Midoryia asked, wanting to see his new friend again. 

"Yeah if you want to! How about you Bakugou, did you like playing with Shoto?" Aizawa asked the blonde and Katsuki nodded, admitting he had fun with his new friend.

"Come on babe, you need to use words okay?" Aizawa asked Bakugou to respond verbally which made the blonde furrow his eyebrows in annoyance. 

"I had fun," Katsuki muttered, finding it frustrating to admit it out loud. 

"Aizawa, why this just dirt?" Izuku asked as he observed that the next planter was empty of vegetation and was just flat dirt. 

"I planted some seeds but I guess they didn't grow," Aizawa explained, wondering why his planted seeds didn't sprout. 

"Oh no! Lazy seed! Bad! You must grow!" Midoryia scolded the dirt, raising his voice at it and doing a fake angry face. 

"Bad!" Bakugou copied, smacking the dirt for good measure. Aizawa chuckled at their expressions of anger towards the dirt. 

"Yelling won't make it grow. The seed wants to grow and become big and strong but something went wrong. I wonder what it needed that it didn't get," Aizawa said out loud. 

"Maybe it not like the dirt!" Izuku pondered as he wrinkled his nose at the wet dirt. 

"It needs dirt, water, and sun. I must have planted the seeds too deep," Aizawa theorized out loud, the kids watching him curiously as he dug around in the dirt, looking for said seeds. 

"Too deep?" Izuku asked as Bakugou began to help Aizawa by digging in the dirt with his bare hands as well. Midoriya wrinkled his nose in disgust as they got dirty on purpose.

"Yeah, seeds grow their stems to be able to reach the top of the dirt but I buried them too deep, see," Aizawa said as he pulled out a withered stem with the seed still attached. 

"Oh no, sorry seed," Midoryia pouted at the seed that didn't make it. 

"Weak seed," Bakugou grumbled as he dug around the dirt some more to find his own evidence. 

"No no, Midoryia is right. I was supposed to take care of the seed, give it a proper home, and make sure it grew right. No need to shame the seed, it was not weak. It just didn't have the proper conditions to grow and that is my fault,"  Aizawa said to take responsibility, the blonde huffing at the bizarre statement. Bakugou thought it easier to call the seed weak for its lack of ability. 

A cold gust of wind flew over them, causing even Aizawa to shiver. The wind had picked up and seemed to have brought the northern cold to them. Not wanting the boys to get sick by being in the cold and humid outdoors he decided to bring them back in. 

"Come on kiddos, let's go shower before it gets even colder, you must be uncomfortable from sweating at Shoto's place," Aizawa urged them inside, feeling a little guilty about not showering them when they got home but they were too sleepy.

Shower time went as normal, with the boys playing with the water a bit before letting themselves be properly cleaned off. Izuku however asked to be washed twice due to the comment about sweat which Aizawa made sure to not say again. But overall it was easy, even Bakugou was more cooperative instead of fighting the man off. 

"There you go, all clean and warm, it's getting cold tonight so you guys will wear long sleeves tonight," Aizawa explained as Bakugou finished putting on his hearing aids.

"Can we play now?" Midoryia asked. 

"Sure, you boys can play in the living room while I work in the kitchen. Oh, I know! Would you guys like some cookies to eat with hot chocolate later?" Aizawa asked, since it was getting cold out it was a perfect time for the hot beverage. 

"Got cookies?!" Izuku's eyes shined at the promise of a tasty treat. 

"Can have now?" Bakugou asked, his eyes wide as he gave his best puppy dog eyes. 

"I have to make them first, I have some cookie dough in the freezer," Aizawa explained to them they weren't ready to eat cookies. 

"Oh! Can me and Kacchan help? Help make cookies?!" Midoryia asked and Bakugou nodded, signaling he wanted to help. 

"Sure!" Aizawa agreed with a smile, happy to finally have an activity they could do together. 

The boys followed the man to the kitchen and eagerly pushed chairs to the counter. Aizawa took out the metal cookie pan from inside the oven and turned it on at 350 degrees Fahrenheit to pre-heat since molding the cookies shouldn't take long. The kids waited eagerly as Aizawa pulled out the cookie dough tub from the freezer, it was low sugar chocolate chip. There were a couple of sugar reduced items in his house, mostly due to the health issues of the little girl he fostered a while ago. 

"Here, I want you guys to break off a piece and make it round like this," Aizawa explained as he set the tub next to them and demonstrated, placing the raw dough on the cookie pan. 

Bakugou was the first to put his hand in the tub and form a perfect replica of Aizawa's example, placing it right next to the other. 

"Not too close or the cookies will glue together," Aizawa explained and moved Bakugou's dough an inch away from his own. 

Bakugou huffed at the correction but listened, making his next one and placing it an inch away from the other as instructed. Midoryia however struggled with getting the dough in his hands, flapping them in disgust as he felt the greasiness. 

"Aizawa," Izuku whimpered and showed his hands up to the man to show the shine of the grease. 

"Here wash your hands," Aizawa pulled the boy's chair to the sink and Izuku immediately washed the substance off his hands. 

"Bhut but I want help," Izuku whined as he saw Bakugou make another identical ball of dough. Aizawa thought for a moment and came up with an idea that might work for the boy's issue. 

"Here try this," Aizawa said, pulling out a plastic wrap from a cupboard and wrapping it around the boy's hand. 

"Oooo! It working!" Izuku approved as he was able to touch the dough without feeling it. 

Aizawa watched as the boys slowly rolled and placed the dough on the cookie sheet, letting them fill the tray before closing the cookie dough tub and putting it back in the freezer. 

"That it?" Midoryia asked, a hint of disappointment in his tone. 

"More!" Bakugou asked, wanting to make more cookies. 

"No no, that's enough for you guys," Aizawa said and grabbed the cookie sheet as the oven beeped because it reached the correct temperature. 

"Can I put it in?" Izuku asked as he grabbed the cookie sheet too. 

"No it's hot, you can burn yourself," Aizawa warned. 

"Together we can put it in?" Midoryia tried a compromise but the man shook his head no. 

"This part is not for kids," The man explained and the boy pouted but accepted it. 

Aizawa put the cookie sheet in the oven and closed it, pressing the buttons on top for the timer and light. The kids crowded under him, pressing their faces against the glass to look at the cookies in the oven. 

"That's it?" Izuku asked as he held his hands up. 

"Yeah they are pretty easy to make," Aizawa said as he took off the wrappings on the boy's hands. 

"More!" Bakugou spoke up. 

"No more cookies, those are enough," Aizawa told them and Bakugou clicked his tongue annoyed. 

"Food?" Bakugou questioned. 

"Good idea Kacchan! Can we help make food? We never done this before!" Midoryia asked the man to help out in the kitchen. 

"You guys are hungry already? You just had lunch a couple of hours ago, how about a small snack instead?" Aizawa suggested and Izuku frowned, Bakugou however nodded at the possibility of a yummy snack. 

"Here," Aizawa opened the cupboard above them and handed them each a raisin box. 

Katsuki opened the box and started eating it immediately, shooting his head back as he downed the whole box of raisins. It seemed the eating after Izuku rule only applied to meals and not snacks. 

"What's wrong?" Aizawa asked as he saw Midoryia sadly open his box of raisins. 

"I wanna help make food," Izuku pouted as he ate his raisins one at a time. 

"Me too! Want to make food!" Bakugou said tossing the empty box of raisins in the trash. 

"You want to help me cook?" Aizawa questioned and the boys nodded. 

"Can we help?" Midoryia asked nicely, finishing his raisins. 

"It's a little early for dinner but okay, how about we make some curry?" Aizawa asked. 

"Yes! It's yummy!" Izuku said excitedly and the boy behind him nodded eagerly. 

The man opened the pantry and got out his black apron along with a couple of kid aprons too. It wasn't his first time teaching children how to cook so he knew the slow tedious task it was going to become. Despite the fact that cooking time became twice as long with children about, he actually enjoyed teaching them. 

"Every chief needs an apron, here pick what color you want," Aizawa said holding up two aprons, one dark blue and the other red. 

"Kacchan, this one is like your eyes!" Izuku said as he grabbed onto the red one and gave it to Bakugou so the kid could be matching. 

"What if he wants blue?" Aizawa asked in defense of the blonde. 

"Oh sorry, Kacchan you want blue one?" Izuku asked and Bakugou shook his head no, placing the red apron over his head. Except he did so backwards so the clothed part was behind him. Bakugou eyes shined as he looked at his homemade cape, the boy did a superhero pose with his chin up and his mouth wide in a smile. 

"Hero Kacchan!" Izuku giggled, his eyes shining as he realized what the blonde had done. 

Quickly, Midoryia snatched the apron away from Aizawa and put it on in reverse like Katsuki. With the apron part behind him, Izuku mimicked Bakugou's hero pose causing the blonde to smile wide and giggle. 

"Let's go!!" Midoryia shouted, jumping off the chair and running off with Katsuki following behind him. 

Aizawa stifled a laugh as he leaned back on the counter, watching them run around the dining table and the living room. Bakugou passed Midoryia and jumped on the couch before running off it and jumping on the floor, landing with his fist down on the floor. 

"I can do that!" Izuku said, getting a running start and jumping on the couch, his feet wobbling to get balanced as he walked across it. 

"Detroit smash!" Midoryia yelled out before jumping off softly and hitting his fist to the ground. Katsuki gave a nervous look towards the man but then eagerly continued the ruse. 

"Woahhhh," Bakugou played along, pretending like the ground was shaking and wobbling his knees for the act. Midoryia's giggles turned into laughter as he watched his friend pretend to fall back on his butt. 

Letting them have their moment Aizawa watched as they ran around, mimicking Allmight's moves and poses. As they played around chasing each other, the man took out the ingredients to make curry and the kitchen kid equipment he had. 

"EeeeEEE," Midoryia began to screech as Katsuki caught up to them in a game of tag, his little feet running as fast as he could. Bakugou slowed down as the boy got loud, looking back at Aizawa for any sign of irritation at their loud play. 

Seeing the man give a warm smile and wave him on, Bakugou gave no mercy to his friend, Bakugou grabbed a hold of Midoryia's shirt and pulled him back. Izuku squealed as the blonde hugged him from behind and pulled him down further to the floor. 

"Got you!" Bakugou giggled as Izuku tried to wrestle his way out of his grasp. 

"I sirrander!" Izuku said as he held still, mispronouncing the word surrender, something he must have heard on the television. 

"Come on little heroes! I thought you wanted to be little chefs!" Aizawa called out as he finished rinsing the vegetables in the sink, calling them over to wash their hands. 

Running over the boys moved their chairs to the sink and washed their hands. As they washed their hands properly, Aizawa helped them put their aprons on right, tying the strings behind their backs. Then pushed the chairs back to the other side of the kitchen near the stove, looking at everything on the countertops.

"Can use knife?" Izuku asked but Bakugou was already on it, grabbing the knife with no hesitation. 

"Yes, those are children's knives so it's safe," Aizawa assured him and Midoryia picked up the plastic knife, the edges dull but capable of chopping. 

"Alright if you want to help, can you please cut the vegetables into small pieces? Like this," Aizawa showed them an example with his adult knife, dicing up a carrot.

"Okay! I got it!" Izuku spoke up as he tried his hand at the knife, he held the carrot down but one of his fingers was stretched along the carrot as he held it in place. 

"You're going to cut your finger like that. Do you know how to do kitty cat hands?" Aizawa asked, raising his hands with his fingers curled in. 

"Like this? Meow meow kitty cat hands?" Izuku asked, giggling as he copied the man. 

"Yes meow meow kitty hands," Aizawa chuckled with a smile as the boy pretended to scratch the air.

"You too Bakugou, do your hands like Lady," Aizawa told the blonde and Katsuki lifted his hands, copying the man. 

"Good! Now place your hands like this when you cut, so you won't lose your fingers," Aizawa explained and used his knife to cut another slice of the carrot, demonstrating proper form. 

Bakugou tried his hand at it first and let his knuckles be a guide to where to cut, following Aizawa's instructions. Using the kid's knife he cut the carrot and then cut it again to be diced. Izuku followed suit, doing the same but with shaky hands more due to his uncertainty than the force he was using on the dull knife. 

"Good job!" Aizawa praised them at their try and Izuku smiled up at him, more confident in his next chop. Katsuki became more enthusiastic, chopping up the whole carrot in record timing. 

"Go ahead and cut all these, would you like me to help?" Aizawa asked but Bakugou huffed and shook his head no. 

"Mine!" Bakugou said, pulling the vegetables toward himself to claim them.

"Okay okay, you can have them all but at least share with Izuku okay?" Aizawa tried to compromise and the blonde pushed a potato towards his friend. 

Aizawa got out the raw chicken from his fridge and used his own cutting board to cut it into pieces, the boys next to him looking on in curiosity. 

"Your knives won't work on this so I need to cut this myself," Aizawa explained as he cut the chicken into squared pieces, placing it in the pot on the stove next to him. 

Beep Beep Beep

The oven beeped as it signaled the cookies were done. Aizawa quickly went to wash the raw chicken off his hands and grabbed his oven mitts. Turning the oven off, Aizawa opened the oven door and pulled out the cookies. 

"Hot hot!" Izuku squinted his eyes as the intense heat escaped and reached his face. Bakugou however was more interested in the sweet smell invading his nose, his mouth drooling as he stared at the tasty treat. 

Aizawa chuckled and quickly closed the oven door, placing the cookies on the countertop on the opposite side of the kitchen, deterring the boys from sneaking a share. The boys looked at him, their eyes wide with want. 

"It's still hot so we have to wait till after dinner okay?" Aizawa told them and Bakugou pouted, furrowing his eyebrows at the wait. 

Katsuki took the negative energy he felt towards the rejection of the chocolate chip cookies and used it to cut down the last of the carrots. Moving on to the potatoes, Izuku had a struggle holding it down with the correct form Aizawa had shown him. The pre-peeled potato slipped from his grasp, rolling off the cutting board and into Bakugou's. 

"Hey!" Izuku complained as Katsuki stole the potato and cut it in half. Adverting expectations the blonde stopped there and gave both halves to Izuku. 

"Oh thanks, Kacchan, it easy now!" Midoryia said as it was easier to hold onto the potato with the cut half down. 

Cutting the potatoes easily, Izuku and Katsuki finished chopping up the vegetables as Aizawa started to cook the chicken in the pot. The only thing left on the cutting board was a small onion.

"Maybe I should cut that one, onions can make you cry and burn your eyes," Aizawa warned but the blonde aggressively pulled the onion on his cutting board. 

"Me!" Bakugou said harshly and cut the onion in half with one chop. 

Katsuki began to cut the onion, Izuku watching on as his friend cut on despite the warnings. Unfortunately, their dull kid knives were able to cut the onion but crushed a lot of the juice out of it as well. Bakugou's eyes squinted as the overpowering smell made it towards his face, his eyes watering. 

"Ahhh!" Izuku cried out as the smell reached his eyes next, his eyes watering without being the one to cut it. 

"Don't stand so close," Aizawa chuckled as the kid rubbed his eyes and looked up at him in distraught. 

Midoryia got off the chair and walked next to Aizawa, choosing to watch from afar as his eyes continued to water. But compared to Bakugou, the green-haired boy had it easy. The blonde had tears flowing down his cheeks and his eyes were barely opened as he squinted to watch where was cutting. The boy wiped his eyes with his sleeve to try to get some relief from the irritation but it didn't work.  

"Did it!" Bakugou shouted out as he slammed his knife down, the onion cut into big pieces. 

"You did a good job powering through kiddo, come on let's wash your hands," Aizawa praised and the boy smiled wide his eyes still crying. 

Aizawa wanted to help Bakugou wash his hands but the boy refused, opting instead to go to the bathroom in the hallway where a stool was provided. 

Aizawa rounded up the boys' hard work of chopping vegetables and poured them into the pot with the chicken, adding some water to it, and letting it reach a boiling point before lowering the temperature to a simmer. Bakugou had returned at this point with water on his apron and some of his hair damp, it looked like he tried to get some relief from the water but his eyes were still red.

"That's it for right now, gotta let the vegetables get soft from the heat then we can add the curry," Aizawa explained to the boys. 

Having nothing else to do for the next fifteen minutes, Aizawa untied their aprons to let them play superheroes while he washed dishes. The man even played some music on his phone to lighten the mood and let Katsuki play with peace of mind that he wasn't being too rowdy. While he was at it, Aizawa rinsed the rice and put it in the rice cooker set to be done just around when the curry should be. 

The boys continued to run around the common areas, even running around Aizawa himself at one point. Laughing and giggling the boys took turns chasing each other, wrestling for a moment when they got caught. At one point Bakugou held the boy down to tickle him mercilessly until Midoryia could only wheeze his face red. 

"All right that's enough Bakugou, let the boy breathe," Aizawa called out, making the blonde flinch and let go, Izuku gasping for a breath. Bakugou looked up at Aizawa, his eyes wide as he searched for anger. 

"You're okay sweetheart, we don't want Izuku passing out do we?" Aizawa reassured and the blonde shook his head no. 

"I think it's time to add the curry, you guys ready to help?" Aizawa said and the light returned to Bakugou's eyes, his fears dissipating. 

"I wanna help!" Izuku said as he ran back to the chair next to the counter. 

"Okay boys, I want you to keep in mind that this is super hot, if you touch it, it will hurt," Aizawa warned the kids about the temperature of the pot, pulling their chairs towards the stove instead of the counters. 

"Yes sir!" Midoryia said cheerfully as he hopped back on the chair, happy to be trusted with the dangers of cooking. 

Aizawa opened the box of curry mix and handed it to Izuku who in turn handed it to Katsuki. Together Bakugou would break off a piece of the curry and throw it in the pot as Izuku mixed it in. Midoryia hummed happily as he mixed, the color getting darker with each cube added. 

"Way to go guys! We should taste it," Aizawa suggested and grabbed the mixing spoon from Izuku. 

Getting a scoop of curry, Aizawa blew on it till it cooled down then moved the spoon toward the green-haired boy. Izuku blew on it as well before taking a bite, smiling at the taste and grabbing his mouth in delight. To him, it was very rewarding to eat something he had a hand in making. Next Aizawa let Bakugou have a taste, the blonde took a big bite and nodded in approval. 

"This is great! Such good chefs!" Aizawa praised as he took his own bite, Izuku giggling as the man gave them a thumbs up. 

As Aizawa rinsed the spoon real quick Bakugou got curious about the pot, a drop of curry running down the side from when the man grabbed a spoonful. Without thinking Katsuki wiped it with his finger to get an extra taste and quickly regretted it. Midoryia watched as the blonde retracted his finger from the heat, concern befalling his face. 

"Ouch," The blonde said calmly as Aizawa came back from the sink. 

"Bakugou! Are you okay?! I said not to touch it!" Aizawa raised his voice in concern as he saw the boy hold his red fingertip. Bakugou tensed up at the tone and looked at him with wide eyes. 

"Kacchan hurting?" Izuku asked concerned as he blew on the burn.  

"I'm okay," Katsuki reassured them as Aizawa held his hand and examined it, luckily only his index finger was burned. 

"You gotta be careful sweetheart, I don't want you hurting," Aizawa sighed and ruffled the boy's hair, Bakugou relaxing his shoulders at the soothing action. Not wanting to overstate his welcome, Aizawa cut his pat short, ordering them off the chairs and away from the stove. 

"Come on follow me," Aizawa said to the blonde and led him to the bathroom. 

Bakugou waited patiently as the man looked at the medicine behind the mirror, eventually pulling out a tube of ointment. Izuku peeked from the doorway as he watched on, not quite sure if he should've followed them as well. 

"This should help it from hurting and make it heal faster," Aizawa explained as he read the instructions for the ointment. 

"Not hurting, not weak," Bakugou muttered annoyed at the concern for his wellbeing. 

"You are hurt but I know you're not weak. You're such a strong boy but we don't want it getting worse." Aizawa told the blonde, kneeling down as the boy extended his hand towards him. 

The blonde just huffed dismissively as the man applied the medication and put a bandaid over his finger. Midoryia inched his way into the bathroom, concern on his face as he watched Bakugou be treated. 

"Heal Heal, be well, hurting now but later be soothed and well," Aizawa chanted as he finished with Bakugou's burn, giving a quick kiss to the bandaid. 

"Me too!" Izuku giggled at the man's funny song and actions. 

"Heal heal! Be well!" The green boy mimicked the beginning of the song but cut it short, giving a kiss to the tip of the blonde's fingertip. 

Bakugou rolled his eyes at their behavior toward his very minor injury but his face blushed at the affection. The blonde wasn't used to being cared for so thoroughly, especially with injuries he caused accidentally to himself. But it felt nice to be...loved.

Chapter Text

"It's so much more yummy when you make it yourself right!" Aizawa said cheerfully as the boys ate the curry from their plates. 

"Very yummy!" Izuku agreed as he ate the last of his curry. 

"Yummy!" Bakugou mimicked, finishing the last of his second helping as well. 

"Such healthy appetites, I'm glad you enjoyed the meal," Aizawa praised them, it might be his imagination but the boy's faces looked fuller than when they first arrived. 

"Can we play now? With the cooking clothes?" Izuku asked, pointing at the aprons laid across an empty seat. 

"Yeah, go ahead. I'll clean up," Aizawa said and the boy quickly got off his chair to put on the apron backward again. 

Bakugou copied Midoryia, putting on his own apron turned cape and they quickly began to play again. It seemed like their favorite game to play together was tag, or more likely it was Izuku's favorite game because the boy always found a way to instigate it. 

The man let them play as he washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen. Again the house was filled with laughter as the kids ran around and hopped up and down furniture. Aizawa liked silence but the rowdy children brought a certain warmth of fulfillment that he was doing something right. Just a couple of days ago they were like baby deers frozen by headlights but now they were prancing around and enjoying themselves. 

"Mister Aizawa! Can we build Allmight base? With this?" Izuku called out, Bakugou straightening up at the boy's sudden loudness. Thinking surely the man would get mad now, that yelling out a request was forbidden. 

"The cushions? Go ahead darling, I don't mind," The man agreed to the request and the boy smiled back at him. 

Bakugou relaxed at the man's cheerful tone and quickly began to help the green-haired boy make a fort. First, the blonde pushed the coffee table, the thing was actually pretty light so he had no trouble moving it back towards the television. Now with the living room space wide open the boys began their dissection of the couch. They threw the throw pillows on the floor and began to disassemble the big cushions on the bottom, leaving only the wooden frame in the couch exposed.

"Need more!" Bakugou stated and Midoryia nodded in agreement. 

"We need to get all! All pillows!" Midoryia declared. 

The boys ran to their room, Bakugou swiftly hopping up the bed and throwing down the pillows to Izuku. Struggling to hold them all at once, the green-haired boy crashed into a wall on the way out but just giggled since the pillows took all the force. Bakugou grabbed hold of Izuku's shirt and led him back to the living room, their pink comforter in his free hand, dragging behind them. 

"Oh wow! You brought your whole bed with you," Aizawa chuckled as he watched them from the hallway, following them to make sure they were safe. 

"It's gonna be a big base!" Izuku told him as he added the pillows to the huge pile in the living room. 

"Oh really? In that case, there's a whole lot more pillows in my room, you should grab those as well," Aizawa suggested and the boys froze, their faces falling as they looked at the man. 

"Your room? Isn't it bad? Bad to be in your room? Auntie yells if we go in grown-ups' room," Midoryia said slowly, his hands clasped together as he held his anxiety in them. 

"No brats allowed," Katsuki said, pointing at Aizawa's bedroom door that was visible from the living room. 

"You can go in, I won't get mad," Aizawa told them but they still looked unsure.

"Not lies? Not lying about being mad to get pillows?" Izuku asked one more time and the man sighed sadly. 

"No lies, come on, it's safe," Aizawa reassured them and Midoryia slowly made his way to the man's room. Bakugou followed behind him, keeping a close eye on Aizawa for any sign of trickery. 

The man followed behind them, finding it strange that they hadn't been to his room already. Aizawa always kept the door to his bedroom open at all times, except on occasional nights. Thinking back on it the boys were pretty good at keeping themselves in the areas he had put them in, except that one time Midoryia snuck off from his room to watch television the other morning. 

The boys inched their way inside his room, looking around at the objects inside. There was a corner that looked like an office, with a chair and table with all sorts of equipment. 

"Like reading Aizawa?" Midoryia asked as he saw a bookshelf of big books on the wall. 

"Yeah! Some of them are for school," Aizawa said as the boy picked out a child psychology textbook from the shelf. 

"School?! Is Aizawa still in school? But you big!" Midoryia exclaimed in disbelief. 

"You're never too big for school. A lot of grown-ups go to school to get a different job, I thought I wanted to be something but then I figured out I wanted to go to school for something else," Aizawa explained, his U.A graduate certificate and pro-hero's license somewhere on the same bookshelf. 

"Oh," Izuku muttered, his eyes getting wide as his view of grown-ups expanded. Meanwhile, Bakugou was still in the doorway, chewing nervously on his thumb. 

"Don't chew your fingers, where's your crystal," Aizawa asked to remind the boy and the blonde huffed and took his orange crystal from his pocket, putting the necklace back on and chewing it.

Katsuki walked into the room, more confident as the chew soothed his anxiety. Cautiously, the blonde made his way to the bed where he and Izuku climbed up for the pillows. Grabbing onto the pillows, there was a sudden growl from under them. 

"Lady?" Bakugou questioned curiously as he lifted the pillow and saw the feline tucked under it. 

"She's super mad!" Izuku giggled as the feline made another growling nose as they discovered her hiding place.

"She's probably cold," Aizawa explained, his cat tended to shove herself under the pillows and covers when it started getting cold out. 

"Awww she so cute!" Midoryia said as the cat's ears flickered back as she growled again. 

"Can pet?" Bakugou asked.  

"Lady is saying that she does not want to be pet, she will swipe at you if you touch her," Aizawa warned the boys. 

The feline was tucked under the sheets, only her head peeking out as she stared down the boys. Aizawa let the boys interact with Lady, this could be a good learning opportunity in a controlled environment. The man knows his cat won't bite or scratch them but she will make a non-clawed swipe as a warning.

"Lady, can pet?" Bakugou asked again and lifted his hand in an arch to communicate his want to her. 

"No no, she mad!" Izuku warned his voice a tone higher in concern. 

Katsuki didn't listen to either Izuku's or Aizawa's warnings and decided to take a chance at it. The cat growled louder as the boy's hand approached her and just like Aizawa warned, Lady swiped at the blonde. 

"Eeee!" Midoryia let out a sound of distress as the cat got up and hissed at them. 

"You okay Bakugou?" Aizawa asked, knowing it was nothing but wanting the blonde to know he would be concerned if something did occur. 

"Lady not... like me?" Bakugou said looking up at Aizawa with sad eyes and a pout. 

"Lady likes you, remember the other day when she let you pet her? She's just mad because we woke her up," Aizawa reassured the boy, the real answer was the cat was overwhelmed the other day when the boys were chasing her around the house. 

"Bad kitty!" Izuku called out to the cat as she hopped off the bed and hid right under it. 

"Come on, let's go make that Allmight pillow fort!" Aizawa redirected their attention back to their objective. 

Aizawa helped them carry his pillows to the living room, four regular pillows and two throw pillows. Adding it onto the others, there was now a big pile of pillows and couch cushions in the middle of the living room floor. 

"Raahhhhhh!" Izuku yelled out as he got a running start, jumping and landing on the soft pile. Bakugou let out a hearty laugh as he saw his friend be swallowed up by the pillows, a wide smile on his face as Izuku emerged from the abyss. 

"Kacch-Allmight! I need help! Am falling! Falling in.. quicksand!" Izuku fake yelled out, doing his best acting by pretending to be sinking in the pillows. 

"I AMmmm-" Katsuki started off saying the iconic line and even did his best hero pose but it quickly faltered as he remembered he was being watched. Looking back at Aizawa, Bakugou's confidence waivered as he questioned his own voice. The music from earlier was still playing on Aizawa's phone in the kitchen but this was the first time Bakugou was tempted to yell out loud, he wondered if it was okay. 

It was clear Bakugou thought of all adults as a possible threat, with the way they talk about his mother, well the way Izuku talks about "Auntie", makes it clear she wasn't the best caregiver. Anxiety plagued the blonde's mind with every loud noise he made, thinking he might annoy Aizawa enough to make him mad. To be so young and riddled with worry about this, is heartbreaking to the man, kids are supposed to have fun. Playing is how they learn, and if you make them fear play, they just learn fear. 

The boy's world is small, he only knows what he's been taught. He was shown that having fun and being loud caused anger. But behind his fear Aizawa sees hope, the hope that maybe this man is different from the boy's mother. That hopefully, even if it's just this one time, he is free to play. 

"You got this hero!" Aizawa stated, putting on his best smile and posing his hands in encouraging fists, "Save your friend with a smile and say...." The man paused so Katsuki could get ready to say the line again. 

"I AM HERE!" Aizawa continued. 

"I AM HERE!" Bakugou yelled out, his eyes shining as Aizawa shouted out loud with him. 

There was a wide smile to accompany Katsuki's voice not only to mimic Allmight but because his view of the world had expanded. This adult man, Aizawa, a grown-up, doesn't get mad at his joy. Instead, this one encourages him, joins in on the fun, and makes him feel safe. 

This one doesn't hate me. 

"Go save him, hero!" Aizawa said to the blonde since Bakugou seemed to have frozen in place, his eyes staring at him with wonder. 

The boy blinked and shook his head, remembering what had caused the revelation in the first place. Without hesitation, Bakugou jumped onto the pile, digging through the mountain of pillows to reach his friend. 

"Got you!" Katsuki said as he grabbed Izuku's arm, the freckled boy giggling as he was found. 

Aizawa sat at the dining room table, laptop in hand as he let the boys play in peace. Every now and then he would catch Bakugou's eyes looking at him, but there wasn't as much fear as before. Their play seemed to become louder as they ran around the pillow pile and at one point started wrestling in it. They took their hero-playing seriously, taking turns being heroes, villains, or civilians needing saving. They had completely forgotten about building the fort and instead used the soft pile to push each other in it and soften their play. At one point they just started hurling each other at the pile for no other reason than to feel the thrill of being thrown. 

"Are you kids okay?" Aizawa asked as the boys were lying down on the floor, out of breath as they tired themselves out. Thankfully it was cold out and was starting to get cold inside so the boys didn't break into a sweat as they played. 

"Yes!" Izuku said out loud, sitting up. 

"Okay," The man said as he continued to look over his schoolwork for his classes, he had finished weeks of work in preparation for his vacation with Hizashi but decided to review in case his rush caused errors. 

"We need to make Allmight base!" Midoryia reminded Bakugou as the blonde rested on a couch cushion. 

"Oh yeah," Katsuki said, sitting up and remembering the task they brought all the cushions for. 

After a long time of playing around it, the boys finally started on the fort. Their tiny arms haul the big cushions in place and use the regular pillows as bedding. It took a few tries to throw the blanket over the structure to lay flat like a roof but through their determination they got it. 

"Wow!" Aizawa said walking over, "Now this is a great Allmight lair!" 

The boys smiled up at the man as they were praised for their hard work. In reality, it was a pretty tiny base, only room to fit the boys and the blanket roof was already starting to fall in on itself. Still, for them to do this on their own was pretty good for their age. 

"You know what would go great with this?" Aizawa questioned, watching the curiosity grow in their eyes. 

"What?" Midoryia questioned, the blonde tilting his head behind him. 

"A movie!" The man said enthusiastically.